Rally GB Citroen Junior Team official release
For the first time the Citroën Junior Team will enter four Citroën C4 WRCs on the Rally Great Britain: the final round of this year’s FIA World Rally Championship. The regular Citroën Junior Team crews of Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia and Conrad Rautenbach/Daniel Barritt will be joined on this occasion by Petter Solberg/Phil Mills and Aaron Burkart/Michael Kölbach.
Three weeks after a first-rate performance on the rapid asphalt of Catalunya, the Citroën Junior Team will field four C4 WRCs on the all-gravel Rally Great Britain. Petter Solberg, who was fourth in Spain on his debut with the C4 WRC, joins the Citroën Junior Team and is nominated to score points in the
manufacturers’ championship. The 2003 World Rally Champion has triumphed in Wales four times, and he starts this year’s event with high hopes. “The Citroën Junior Team has given me a great chance to show what I can do with a competitive car,” he said. “My goal is obviously to be fighting at the front. I’ve
already been extremely impressed with the performance of the C4 WRC and I hope to be able to seize every opportunity that comes my way on these stages that I really love.”
Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia, who currently lie eighth in the World Rally Championship, are returning to the event where they made their debut at the wheel of the C4 WRC in 2008. One year ago, the duo hit the headlines by sensationally grabbing the rally lead on the opening stages. “This will be the
very first rally that we have driven before with a WRC car,” said Sébastien. “I don’t think that this will give us any particular advantage, but it should certainly make things a little bit easier. I also hope that the conditions will be a little better than they were last year. As the rally is running a month earlier, there
should at least be no ice this time. We’re coming to Rally GB with no particular pressure. The idea is for us to get quickly up to speed and aim for a good result. A top-five finish would be great, but if the podium is within our reach then we will do everything possible to go for it.” Sébastien and Julien will be the second crew nominated to score manufacturer points.
For Conrad Rautenbach – who lives in London – and his English co-driver Daniel Barritt, the Rally Great Britain is their home event. “I’ve always loved this rally,” said the Zimbabwean. “I feel at home here and I’ve got loads of supporters. The stages are fantastic, especially those run on the first day. It’s going to be a very nice rally. I hope I get a good feeling with the car and finish in the points.”