Guy Fréquelin sees great potentialGuy Fréquelin, the Citroën Sport Team Principal, is quite pleased with the C4 WRC's performances – and with both his drivers of course.
As the next round of rallying will be taking place this coming week-end, he takes at look at
things to come.
What is your analysis of the recent Rally Argentina?
It was a very intense week! The logistical problems encountered by the organisers during the first leg essentially reduced the event to just two days of competition and only served to make it more stressful.
Sebastien Loeb and Daniel Elena put in a perfect run. They took the lead after the first real stage and then completely annihilated the opposition with a score of ten fastest stage times. It was more complex for Dani Sordo and Marc Martí who notably lost ground because of a hydraulic problem. Even so, they were in fighting form on the Sunday and succeeded in climbing back two places. It seems to me that Dani reached a new level in Argentina where the Citroën C4 WRC once again showed remarkable potential.
As in Argentina, Citroën has a successful recent record to defend in Sardinia.
Can the current competitiveness of the C4 WRC enable you to extend your current winning runs?
It is true that Citroën and Seb have won the last two times out in Sardinia and we are also on a streak of three wins in a row this season. It would be nice to add another win to both these runs but we still have to be cautious because the specific conditions of Sardinia are once again new terrain for the car, but I hope we are able to challenge for victory. We have worked hard and prepared thoroughly for that.
What exactly are Rally d'Italia-Sardegna's specific features?
The stages have evolved, but they tend to be very narrow with lots of blind crests and corners. You can't afford to stray off the ideal line because the sides of the roads are very rocky and putting a wheel on the verge can eliminate you. The surface itself is very sandy and, if it doesn't rain, running first on the road is a big handicap.
Source Citroen Sport
