Last updated 19:41, Thursday, 01 May 2008

THREE drivers in the top eight made the Jordan Rally a stunning success for the Stobart VK M-Sport Ford rally team.

Henning Solberg/Cato Menkerud led the way finishing fourth, one spot ahead of Matthew Wilson/Scott Martin who scored their best ever finish together.

Despite retirement on Friday, Gigi Galli/Giovanni Bernacchini remained focused to finish in the final points position in eighth.

Wilson was set for an equal best fourth place finish until a costly puncture on the monster Jordan River 1 stage saw him slip back one position. Still the effort sees him move to 10th in the drivers' championship.

Galli battled his way back to eighth after his Friday problem when he slid backwards into a stone bank causing too much damage to the rear differential cooler and exhaust for him to continue; but by the end of the event he finished just 8.8 seconds adrift of seventh.

Team principal Malcolm Wilson said: “We've seen another fantastic performance from the entire Stobart team on what was a tough, demanding and tricky Jordan Rally.”

n Munchi’s Ford crew Federico Villagra/Jorge Pérez Companc equalled their best ever WRC result to make it three point scoring results on the trot, finishing sixth in Jordan.

The result also sees the Munchi's Ford World Rally Team increase the gap on Suzuki and maintain fifth in the WRC manufacturers' championship.