Meeke and Breen optimistic before Monte-Carlo

Featured on our cover of the Guide WRC 2018, still available in digital version and on newsstands, Citroën approaches the 86th Rally Monte-Carlo with high ambitions. During the off-season, the Chevron brand practiced on various surfaces in the south of France, with its two main crews for the coming season. Confirmed in spearhead status (two victories in 2017 but numerous off-track events), Chris Meeke will try to improve on its best mark in the opening event, a 3rd place in 2014.

The Briton recognizes it, “Monte-Carlo is probably one of the toughest rallies of the season, due to its incessant changes of grip. » “I have always enjoyed it. I was also quick there: I won the Junior WRC race in 2005, I scored a podium (3rd) for my full-time return to Citroën in 2014, I fought for victory in 2016”, he explains. In 2017, he left the road as he led his C3 to the third step of the podium.

“I think we can do a good job there, especially since our tests proved to be quite representative of what awaits us, with a nice variety of atmospheric conditions. They also allowed us to continue to progress on the adaptability of our C3 WRC to changing surfaces, notably by returning to the Col de Faye, where we were least comfortable during the last edition. »

 Less experienced than his partner (three participations, only one in the WRC), Craig Breen will make his first Monte-Carlo at the wheel of the C3 WRC. The Irishman is in no way distressed by the many pitfalls relating to surface changes. “The Monte-Carlo is a rally that I love, it is a unique challenge that no other event on the calendar offers. Until last year, however, I had never felt sufficiently confident in such changeable and slippery conditions. But last year, with the old car, we surprised ourselves. With a little more horses, we could challenge for the podium, so that gives me confidence: I want to believe that we can do the same, even if I'm not the most experienced at the start. Especially in light of the achievements of 2017, we are approaching the event much better prepared, with an even more versatile C3 WRC. »

The C3 was criticized last year by its drivers for its too aggressive behavior under certain conditions. The character of the car has been refined for this atypical event, as Christophe Besse, technical director of the official team, explains. “The Monte-Carlo is above all a rally of drivers and tires. You need a car that is easy to drive, progressive in its reactions, so that the driver feels confident behind the wheel whatever the level of grip encountered. This is what we set out to work on in testing. The stages there are generally bumpy, which is why we also tried to further optimize the damping of the C3 WRC. The ES being grouped in the form of loops, we never really have the right rubbers at the right time. The challenge is therefore to know what we are going to concede, for example in studded tires on dry ground, in order to opt for the best compromise. »