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11 Teams Eligible for Manufacturer Points in the 2011 WRC

When the 3rd round of the 2011 World Rally Championship kicks off in Portugal late next month, there will be no less than 11 teams eligible for manufacturer points in the series. The number was boosted by 3 teams – as Rally Sweden saw 8 manufacturer entrants – namely the Brazil World Rally Team, the Petter Solberg World Rally Team and Van Merksteijn Motorsport.

Apart from the 2 works teams of Citroen and Ford, there were 6 more WRC teams eligible for that classification (including the two satellite teams of Citroen Junior and Stobart Ford, respectively).

Needless to say, Petter Solberg World Rally Team is the most important name on that list, as the Norwegian has stated loud and clear that he's going for the world title in 2011. The former WRC champ has already competed in Sweden earlier this month, scoring a 5th place overall, but his team was not registered for the manufacturers’ championship in the season opener.

We’re still a self-funded privateer team but very professional at the same time,” said Petter Solberg World Rally Team boss Ken Rees. “The prestige attached to being a manufacturer team is very important for our sponsors. We’ve been playing with the big boys for the last two years now and it’s high time we took that next step and went up against them properly.

Moving on, the Brazil World Rally Team will make its 2011 debut in the series in Rally Portugal, with lead driver Daniel Oliveira taking the wheel of a Super 2000 MINI Countryman. He will switch to a regular MINI WRC car starting Rally d’Italia Sardegna, when the MINI works team will also make its official return to the WRC.

Finally, Van Merksteijn Motorsport will start off its 10-round schedule in the 2011 WRC also in Rally Portugal, with Peter van Merksteijn Jr. driving a Citroen DS3 WRC throughout the campaign.
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