But it won't be easy!The Citroën Sport team did a good job in Mexico, with
Sebastien Loeb taking victory and Dani Sordo finishing fourth. The next challenge for both drivers and their C4s will be on the grounds of Rally Portugal, which is making its awaited return after
a six-year absence on the WRC calendar.
Overseeing the team's approach we find Guy Frequelin.
Citroen's recent good show on gravel has reassured him on the car's handling, even though the Algarve stages remain mostly unknown to the team. Fréquelin is also looking forward to a warm welcome from the Portuguese fans.
What lessons did you bring back from Mexico?
"First of all, the fact that the C4 WRC succeeded in winning its maiden outing on gravel provided an indication of its potential on the loose. Also, Dani's good run reassured me regarding his ability on dirt. But the final result saw us gain just one point on the leader in the Manufacturers' standings and that shows that nothing will be easy."
What does Portugal's return to the World Rally Championship fold mean to you?
"In marketing terms, the event's return is a very positive thing because the country is an important market for car manufacturers. It's also good from the sporting angle because the Portuguese population has always given motorsport such an extraordinary welcome.
The prospect of competing in front of such connoisseur, enthusiastic spectators is particularly nice. That said, it will be vital for the organisers to communicate effectively, a bit like the job done prior to the 2007 Monte Carlo Rally's Ardèche stages to ensure that everything ran smoothly."
How do you prepare for an event for which you have no benchmarks?
"We were not permitted to test in Portugal, but that's a situation we also faced in New Zealand and Argentina the first year we competed there, so it's not new. At Citroën Sport, we extrapolate from work in conditions that most resemble what we are likely to find on the event. In the case of Portugal, we have been able to take onboard information supplied by Dani and Marc who were present for last year's rally. The stages are apparently twistier than Mexico, with a big difference in grip levels between the first and second passes."
Citroen Sport
