The experienced Gilles Panizzi and versatile Mathias Ekstrom have been named to the second Red Bull Skoda entry for the opening two rounds of the 2006 World Rally Championship.

With rookie Andreas Aigner treading the WRC boards for the first time, the team was keen to secure wider heads alongside the German, and Panizzi will be on hand to help it through the opening round in Monte Carlo next month, as well as the key tarmac events in Spain and Corsica later in the season. Ekstrom will occupy the seat in the second round of the series, in his native Sweden, returning to the cockpit of a Fabia WRC for the first time since taking a top ten result on the same event last season. Other outings have yet to be confirmed, but could be limited by his involvement in the DTM touring car series.

"Signing Panizzi and Ekström means that we have two internationally experienced drivers in our team," squad boss Raimund Baumschlager told rally-magazin.de,
"We now expect good results in the World Championship and a continuous push for honours in the Manufacturer 2 category for Skoda. Andreas Aigner should also profit from the experience of both drivers and learn much."

Ekstrom will be partnered by co-driver Stefan Bergmann, while Panizzi will again team up with brother Herve

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