Two different approaches for Citroën in Monte-Carlo

Citroën Racing will celebrate its return to the World Rally Championship next week at Rally Monte Carlo. To meet the new 2017 technical regulations, the herringbone brand has developed its C3 WRC, which will be entrusted to Monte-Carlo to the Briton Kris Meeke and the Frenchman Stéphane Lefebvre.

While waiting for the arrival of a third car in a few weeks, Craig Breen will have an old generation DS3 WRC. A difference in mount which will also be coupled with a differentiated approach depending on the crews.

« Kris demonstrated last year that he has the level to win this rally , comments Yves Matton, boss of Citroën Racing.  But you have to make the difference between a test base, crisscrossed throughout a day, and four days of rallying with two reconnaissance passes.

You will have to be defensive at the start of the race, to situate the competition and plan for the duration of the rally. It will be different for Stéphane. Like Craig, we want to take him to a level where he will fight for victory.

Before that, there remains a learning period, especially during the first half-season. He will have to play positioned to reach the finish. We only have two cars at the start, which means we don't have a wild card. »

The C3 may appear to be the best technically armed after a development presented as the most “compact in the history of Citroën Racing” by Yves Matton.

Les voitures françaises seront certainement très observées par les écuries rivales M-Sport, Toyota et Hyundai. “I feel like we will be in the spotlight, but I hope I can concentrate on my driving, underlines Kris Meeke.

For this first rally, I have a simple goal: to be relaxed and have fun behind the wheel. It is rightly said that anything can happen in Monte-Carlo. »