you have Not missed any work at Citroën Racing for the past few weeks with the celebration of the two first tests with the Citroën C3 WRC from 2017 on earth. However, the official drivers of the French house have missed the competition, feeling that it could set aside from their minds this week as they Kris Meeke, Stéphane Lefebvre and Khalid Al-Qassimi returning to action with the dispute of the Rally of Portugal. The three riders will compete at the wheel of the usual DS3 WRC that puts it in competition PH-Sport team that supports the program part of the mark.
The tip of the spear of Citroën is Kris Meeke. The pilot in northern ireland has only competed twice in the Rally of Portugal. In 2014 he ended up leaving, while last year amounted to a positive fourth place. Face and cross to a pilot that you don’t lose the momentum: “I Am happy to be back in the competitive environment. I really like the Rally of Portugal. Last year, we all had to familiarize ourselves with some stretches, but we managed to finish fourth in general. I Remember fondly the enthusiasm and passion of the fans. The organizers did an amazing job”.
On a more technical and focused in his role, Kris Meeke has explained: “This year, the first challenge is to find again the rhythm in the car. The testing session that we did on Sunday has helped me in this regard. I hope to be able to fight in the front, but you have to be realistic. We still have a good car, but there are no improvements, while all the rivals are working hard to improve their cars. Being objective, we should have a rally free of errors, and see where we are in the final classification. I know that my starting position should help me”.
Stéphane Lefebvre is the second pilot chosen by Citroën
to compete in this test, the whole time the frenchman cherishes certain
experience in Portugal: “I have good memories of the Rally of Portugal. In
2014, when it still competed in the Algarve, I won this round of the Junior WRC.
Last year, I finished among the first five in WRC2. We are now in the
north, with stages, with gravel less rough and it is more enjoyable to drive.
Without a doubt, the Rally of Portugal would not be the same without the crowd of fans
enthusiasts that are in each special“.
in spite of everything, Stéphane Lefebvre arrives at a position
complicated to Portugal, every time that the frenchman has not competed in the WRC since
the first event of the year in Monte carlo: “I have to say that it has seemed
an eternity my absence from Monte carlo. Although in the last few weeks we have
been busy competing on gravel in the Championship of France, where we have
won with a Citroen C4 WRC and also we have tested the World Rally Car of
2017, there is nothing better than to return to the World. , We are focused on achieving
the best possible result in this rally“.
Khalid Al-Qassimi will also compete in Portugal, after
take part in the last Rally of Sweden, where he finished out of the
points: “It’s good to be back in the Rally of Portugal, in a test
in which fans give their all. I still remember the huge number of people
they saw the stage of ‘Fafe’ in the last year. It was an incredible feeling. This
year the stages are the same and I hope to enjoy them. seven months Ago that not
I compete in gravel with a World Rally Car, from Spain. I think it’s going to be
difficult, but we will do our best to find a good
level”.
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