Sweden : Citroen Sport - PreviewAfter celebrating its return to world class rallying with a one-two finish on January's Monte Carlo Rally, Citroën Sport has entered two Citroën C4 WRCs for the Swedish Rally. The cars will be driven by
Sebastien Loeb/Daniel Elena and Dani
Sordo/Marc Martí.
The Monte Carlo Rally's move to the Valence region of France passed off successfully, but in the end there wasn't the slightest hint of snow on the season's curtain-raiser, just a tiny bit of frost to keep the drivers on their toes. Sweden will therefore be the first chance for the fledgling Citroën C4 WRC to compete in anger in wintry conditions, which explains the cautious attitude of everyone at Citroën Sport going into the event. "We know we are competitive on asphalt; now we need to see how the C4 WRC performs on snow," observes Guy Fréquelin.
With the addition of Rally Norway to the calendar the week after Sweden, the Karlstad-based round is no longer the WRC's only winter fixture. Even so, its profile and the specific nature of its stages ensure that it keeps its unique flavour. The lanes that criss-cross the Värmland region are generally very fast and, along with Finland, it is one of the fastest rounds of the championship despite taking place on stages habitually so icy that it is impossible to walk on them.
The speeds reached and the precision driving demanded are two of the reasons why the drivers are so fond of the annual trip to Sweden.
"Our studded BFGoodrich tyres can give more grip than we find on gravel," points out
Sebastien Loeb, winner of the 2004 event. "It really is fast. You've got to be totally concentrated and drive extremely precisely because it's so easy to make a small mistake. When the stages are lined with snow banks, you have a bit of a margin for error, but not a very big one."
The pleasure of competing over a coating of fresh snow or ice can be spoiled, however, if a thaw sets in. The job then becomes more complex as gravel is exposed, with the added risk of stud breakage and punctures. The snow banks melt away and the drivers need to be even more vigilant than ever.
The Swedish Rally's inherent difficulty is highlighted by the fact that only once in 55 events has victory escaped the Nordic drivers. The combination of their local knowledge and the instinctive car control they develop on this type of surface at an early age has permitted them to repeatedly ward off the challenges of champions of the calibre of Carlos Sainz and Didier Auriol. But they weren't able to prevent
Sebastien Loeb and Daniel Elena taking the laurels with the Xsara WRC in 2004 and the Citroën pair wouldn't be against pulling off the same feat this time round.
To prepare for the season's first wintry encounter, Citroën Sport spent four days testing in Sweden at the end of 2006, with the two drivers on duty for two days each. "Our objectives during that test included seeing how the C4 WRC performed on the specific narrow tyres we use on this type of surface," reports Technical Manager Xavier Mestelan-Pinon. "We also wanted to ensure that the car's mechanicals functioned properly in the cold. The result of our programme, which took in a variety of different road types, was positive."
For 'rookies', the Swedish Rally is one of the most complex outings of the year. "This rally is made difficult by its unique surface and the high speeds the drivers reach over its very narrow stages. That's a lot to take onboard at the same time," says Guy Fréquelin.
Sébastien saw that for himself the first time he went to Sweden, while Dani Sordo found out in turn last year. The Spaniard has already shown his ability to adapt particularly quickly, but he will doubtlessly need to bide his time before he finds himself in a position where he can play a leading role here. "Given the little experience he has on snow," continues Guy, "Dani shouldn't try to push too hard. He absolutely needs to finish without making any mistakes to be sure of finishing in the points."
Meanwhile,
Sebastien Loeb has shown through his success in 2004 that he is capable of challenging for top spot. For the Frenchman, the principal unknowns are the Citroën C4 WRC's potential and the quantity of snow that will be present on Leg 1 which will dictate how much 'road-sweeping' he will have to do on the first day.
Citroen Sport
