JUST a few days after the Citroen C3 WRC concept car was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show, Citroen Racing has announced the crews that will be competing for the team in the next two seasons of the FIA World Rally Championship.
Already confirmed to drive for the team until 2018, Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle will be joined by Craig Breen/Scott Martin and Stéphane Lefebvre/Gabin Moreau. Chairman of Abu Dhabi Racing, Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi will also be competing with his co-driver Chris Patterson at some events in 2017.
Citroen Racing is continuing to assemble the necessary ingredients for its return, as a works team, to the FIA World Rally Championship. Since April, the C3 WRC has completed seven development tests, both on gravel and tarmac, and the French car maker says it is now very close to the final version.
Until October 16, visitors to the Paris Motor Show can see the Citroen C3 WRC concept car that heralds the new generation of World Rally cars, which are set to make their competitive debut at the 2017 Rallye Monte-Carlo.
After confirming Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle at the end of last year, the line-up is now completed by two crews considered to be among the most promising young talents in the WRC. Having come to prominence through the PSA Group’s rally programmes, and competing this season for the Abu Dhabi Total WRT, Craig Breen/Scott Martin and Stéphane Lefebvre/Gabin Moreau have convinced Citroen to put their faith in young drivers.
This is very much in line with Citroen’s long-term philosophy of identifying and developing young and highly-talented rally drivers.
In the last 15 years or more, Citroen has identified some of the best in the business: Sebastien Loeb, Sebastien Ogier, Dani Sordo, Thierry Neuville, Eric Camilli and Kris Meeke. Breen and Lefebvre are destined to add their names to this illustrious list.
At the start of the 2017 season, the team will enter two Citroen C3 WRCs: one for Kris Meeke and the other for either Craig Breen or Stephane Lefebvre, who will alternate driving duties. The exact allocation of events to drivers will be announced at a later stage and Citroen will start entering three cars ‘as soon as possible’.
The FIA’s World Motorsport Council recently decided it would let manufacturers enter three cars, with the top two scoring points towards the Manufacturers’ World Championship.
At some rounds of the 2017 WRC, a fourth Citroen C3 WRC will also be entered for Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi and Chris Patterson.
Already involved in the development of the car, the drivers will also be competing at this year’s Rally de Espana (Meeke, Breen, Al Qassimi) and Wales Rally GB (Meeke, Breen, Lefebvre) to acquire experience driving the current cars.
Yves Matton, Citroen Racing Team Principal, says: “We had several scenarios regarding the choice of our crews for the future. Kris Meeke was confirmed at the end of last year and has become the natural leader of the team. As well as challenging for the lead on each of his appearances in 2016, winning in Portugal and in Finland, he has also done most of the development work for our Citroen C3 WRC.
“In choosing two young crews to complete the line-up, I don’t think we can be accused of having gone for the easy option. But this original solution is very much aligned with Citroen’s mindset. And having seen them compete this season for the Abu Dhabi Total WRT, we believe in the potential of Craig Breen and Stéphane Lefebvre. They have the natural talent, motivation and work ethic to win rallies.
“I would also say we are proud to take these young drivers – who have been with the PSA Group for many years – up to the top level of the sport. At the start of the season, we’ll have no choice but to have them take turns behind the wheel in the second Citroen C3 WRC.
“However, as soon as possible, our three crews will be starting each round. Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi is a true ambassador for rallying in the Middle East and we are very pleased to support him in his approach.”
