Thierry Neuville, who is recognized as one of the rising stars in world rallying, will drive a Citroën DS3 WRC in the 2012 World Championship. The Belgian will race in a minimum of nine events.
Citroën Racing, which is heavily committed to the training and promotion of young drivers, will give ThierryNeuville the opportunity to prove himself at the topmost level in world rallying. The 22-year-old-driver fromSaint-Vith in Belgium will be at the wheel of a Citroën DS3 WRC prepared by Citroën Racing Technologies.Thierry Neuville, backed up by his fellow-countryman Nicolas Gilsoul, will race in nine of the thirteen rallies inthe 2012 World Championship: Monte-Carlo, Sweden, Mexico, Portugal, Greece, Argentina, Finland,Germany and Great Britain. Depending on how the season unfolds, the French and Spanish rallies could beadded to this programme.
Neuville made a name for himself by winning the Belgian Citroën Racing Trophy in 2009. In 2010, he drovea Citroën C2 S1600 in the Junior World Rally Championship (JWRC), and he also raced in his first IRC ralliesat the wheel of a Peugeot 207 S2000. In 2011 he won the Tour of Corsica and San Remo rallies and was incontention for the IRC title right up till the last event.
Olivier Quesnel (Citroën Racing Team Principal): “Citroën Racing has been keeping a close eye on ThierryNeuville’s career for several years now. We felt that the time had come to give him a chance at the topmostlevel. Like Sébastien Loeb, and more recently Sébastien Ogier, Thierry will find himself in a team that willhelp him complete his training and consolidate it with results. It’s up to Thierry and Nicolas to seize thisopportunity!”
Thierry Neuville: “Ever since the moment I had the opportunity to drive the Citroën DS3 WRC in testing I’vebeen dreaming of racing it. It’ll be the case in the Monte Carlo Rally, and I have to admit that I still havedifficulty believing it! The 2011 season was a very positive one with two victories in two legendary rallies, theTour of Corsica and the San Remo. I had to move up another step on the ladder and I’m very proud thatCitroën Racing has put its trust in me for 2012. I’ll do everything in my power to repay their confidence. Myaim for the coming weeks is not to skip any stages, listen to the advice I’m given and understand how theteam and the car work.
