Citroën DS3 WRC for van Merksteijn Jr

Peter van Merksteijn Junior achieves the feat of obtaining a Citroën DS3 WRC for next season. A highly sought-after car, it should be one of the most competitive next year and, for sure, one of two cars to compete for the world title, along with the Ford Fiesta RS WRC.

In addition to Sébastien?s commitment Loeb et Sébastien Ogier, Citroën is continuing its "customer" program, following the example of Evgeny Novikov and Conrad Rautenbach in 2009. The Dutchman Peter van Merksteijn Jr appeared this season at the wheel of a Ford Focus WRC prepared by his team, van Merksteijn Motorsport. Former winner of group N in the Dutch championship, he recently launched into the world championship. In 2011, the Dutch driver will therefore benefit from a DS3 WRC and the support of Citroën.

“Last year we won the Dutch championship with Bernhard Ten Brinke and this year we focused on preparing for the 2011 WRC season,” explains Gerard Grouve, team manager of van Merksteijn Motorsport. The regulations will change significantly and we wanted to be fully prepared. The options available were limited and only a few WRCs were available. We are therefore very excited at the idea that Peter van Merksteijn Jr will have the opportunity to participate in the WRC with an official Citroën Racing car, the DS3 WRC. »

Whoever joins the French manufacturer's "team second" does not hide his joy at being able to take the wheel of the latest from the Satory workshops, for ten rallies. “In previous years, I was never able to completely free myself from my busy schedule to drive. In 2011, I will devote myself fully to rally, because I am extremely lucky to drive a factory car. Citroën's new rally car, the Citroën DS3 WRC seems to be a super fun car to drive. After all, Sébastien Loeb has full confidence in the DS3 WRC. I have ten WRC rallies to compete in and I can score points in the championship. »

In addition, the Dutchman's father, Peter van Merksteijn Senior, also hopes to take part in several 2011 WRC rallies at the wheel of the DS3 WRC. “It is a unique situation that two Dutch drivers are driving a factory car at the highest level of rallying. As for Peter Jr, he will do several tests with Citroën, “having the chance to learn a lot from the Citroën factory drivers, the seven-time World Champion Sébastien Loeb, and the talented Sébastien Ogier. » He will make his competitive debut at the next Rally Sweden.