Andreas Mikkelsen with Citroën in Sardinia

This morning, Citroën Racing provided an answer to the question that has been agitating the service park in recent weeks. It is ultimately within the French team that the talented Norwegian will make his return in WRC. The Andreas Mikkelsen-Anders Jaeger pair will indeed be lined up at the start of Rally Italia Sardegna (June 8-11) in the No. 3 C9 WRC.

This will allow Citroën to count on a sure bet in the field, third in the championship in 2014, 2015 and 2016. “ Since the end of the 2016 season, I have been looking for a solution to continue to evolve at the highest level of the rally worldwide, underlines the person concerned. I am therefore very happy to join Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT for the Rally Italia Sardegna. Citroën's track record is impressive and I am delighted to be able to work with such a team. Victorious in the first gravel rally of the season, the Citroën C3 WRC demonstrated its potential and progress seems steady. I can't wait to get my bearings in testing, then start preparing for the rally. I will probably be short on driving when I start, but the main thing for me will be to be back at the forefront. » 

The duo Stéphane Lefebvre-Gabin Moreau bears the brunt of this news, but they will be back from the Rally Poland, scheduled from June 29 to July 2.

« The results are not completely up to the objectives set at the start of the season, is justified by Yves Matton, Director of Citroën Racing. At the same time, Andreas Mikkelsen is actively seeking a drive at the highest level of world rallying. We therefore reached an agreement for him to compete in the Rally Italia Sardegna at the wheel of one of our C3 WRCs. I think I can say that we are all excited about this opportunity! Andreas has good experience of this rally, which is not our case since the Abu Dhabi Total WRT team was not present in Sardinia last year. Due to limited preparation, Andreas will not have a defined goal. We will simply ask him to drive at a pace consistent with his feelings behind the wheel. We would like to thank the FIA ​​and Skoda Motorsport for authorizing this change, as well as Stéphane Lefebvre who gives up his place on this rally. This is in no way a sanction or a questioning of our investment in young drivers, but a decision intended to optimize Citroën's chances. Stéphane accepted the need to serve the team; he will also be present in Sardinia for the reconnaissance and then in Poland to compete in the rally. »

To prepare as best as possible, Citroën Racing will organize a day of testing before the event.