Held for the third time this year in Alsace and the Vosges, the Rallye de France should see the Citron Total World Rally Team enjoy great support from the home crowds. As was the case in 2010, Loeb and Elena return to Sebs native region with a chance of being crowned World Champion there. Given that their team-mates, Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen, are the only ones standing between them and a ninth consecutive title, everyone in the team is in a very relaxed mood. A strong overall performance would also enable Citron to win its eighth Manufacturers title, so the stakes are high for this home round!
Ever since it moved to Alsace in 2010, the Rallye de France has enjoyed a level of popularity that compares favourably with the enthusiasm generated by the WRC in Argentina, Mexico, Finland or Spain. Several hundred thousand fans looked on as Sbastien Loeb and Daniel Elena won the first edition and with it, their seventh world title. Forced out of the rally prematurely last year, the crew returns this year highly determined to add to their tally of 74 wins. Like the fans who turned out to support me, I was disappointed to retire last year, but that kind of thing is also part and parcel of racing, confirmed Seb. I feel that theres some sort of revenge to be had! This year, we can secure the outcome of both championships. In the Drivers championship, there is only Mikko and me that can win the title.
Obviously, Id prefer it if I won and Im going be trying very hard to do just that. The maths isnt very complicated, as I will win the title if I finish ahead of my team-mate next weekend. Just like the other rounds, this rally has specific features that give the event its complexity. However, even with the artificial chicanes that you sometimes find on the itinerary, the stages are among the quickest that we have ever completed. The constant changes in road surface make the tarmac difficult to read and the work of the gravel crews is essential given that the road can become very dirty between the two runs. Especially if it rains
Rain, fog, the racing line made slippery by mud: Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen are all the more familiar with these factors following their winning performance at last weekends Rallye Vosgien. It was a great learning experience for me. I dont think I have ever driven in such difficult conditions on tarmac, admitted the Finn. We tested different set-ups to adapt the DS3 WRC to the road conditions, which varied between being wet, drying and totally dry.
Third in Germany at his first proper tarmac rally in the Citron, Mikko believes he is gradually improving: Although it is not my favourite surface, I like tarmac and I cant wait to compete in the Rallye de France! In Germany, gradually I understood how to change my driving style to suit the characteristics of the DS3 WRC. I made even more progress last week, so well see where how far I have come. To be honest, I'm not thinking about the Drivers' title at all. Seb has been as strong as ever this year and he has such a big lead that I dont see how I can beat him in normal racingconditions. My goal is to continue to improve and score the points needed by Citron to win the Manufacturers World Championship.
In order to be crowned World Champion after this rally, Sbastien Loeb will need to hold onto 56 of his 61-point lead over Mikko Hirvonen. In the Manufacturers championship, the Citron Total World Rally Team needs to maintain a lead of over 86 points, compared with its 111-point lead ahead of the French round of the WRC.
THREE QUESTIONS FOR SBASTIEN LOEB
Citron Racing outlined plans for its future in motorsport in an announcement at the 2012 Paris Motor Show.So, you are not intending to defend your title next year?
I have been asked about it so many times, so it had to happen eventually! It wasnt an easy decision to take. On theone hand, I have to admit that I am little tired of the schedule imposed by the World Rally Championship. What withthe test sessions, reconnaissance and the various other things, I spend a lot of time away from my family. Having saidthat, I still love driving and winning. This season seems to show that I still have the pace, but I didn't want to stop aftercompeting in one season too many either. I'll still be around in 2013, but not as consistently as now, competing atrallies that I like and which are important for Citron. I couldnt not include the Rallye Monte-Carlo in my diary, so Illbe starting the season on January 15 along with everyone else!
The Brand has also announced that it is considering entering the WTCC with you. Who decided that you shouldgo down that road?
In the last few months, I have held lots of discussions with Frdric Banzet and Yves Matton. Over the last ten years,I could have taken up offers to go elsewhere, but I have always preferred to stay with the team that gave me my chance.When we started talking about the role of ambassador that I might have in the future, I quickly felt that I would needan active role to feel completely satisfied. Given that I wanted to pursue my career in track racing, we came up with thisidea together. After considering the various racing categories, the WTCC emerged as the best option. There are still anumber of variables and imponderables in the equation, but I am excited about the prospect of competing in thischampionship.
Before all that, there is the small matter of the upcoming Rallye de France. Many people think it will be a mereformalityWell, they couldnt be more wrong! Our rivals showed in Wales that they were more than capable of matching us,although I think we should be quicker than them on tarmac. But first and foremost, well have to contend with theitinerary itself! There are some stages that we know very well, and others that are new and we'll have to get to gripswith. If it rains, I think the race could be very complicated, with some very tough tyres choices to make. Ill be going forthe win and the world title, but nothing can be taken for granted before the finish
RALLYE DE FRANCE-ALSACE Round: 11/13 Base and service park: Znith de Strasbourg Surface: Tarmac Weather: Central European climate, with average temperatures varying between 9C and 16C. Sunrise and sunset on the first day of the rally: 7.32am/7.02pm Local time: UTC+1 Currency: Local currency is the Euro. Website: www.rallyedefrance.com Technical information: Spare parts (transmission, subframes, steering racks and turbochargers) are to be shared with RallyeDeutschland. Tyres: 30 Michelin Pilot Sport tyres per car (including the shakedown), to be chosen from 24 hard (H1) and 20 soft (S1)tyres. Reconnaissance: Tuesday 2 October from 9am to 8.55pm, Wednesday 3 October from 8am to 9.55pm and Thursday 4October from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. Shakedown: Thursday 4 October from 7.30am to 10.30am on a 3.80km-long stage in the Hautepierre district ofStrasbourg (start located 200m from the service park). Route: 22 special stages (12 different stages). 404.14km of timed sections. Total distance: 1,404.89km.
RALLYE DE FRANCE-ALSACE ITINERARYTHURSDAY 4 OCTOBER7.30am: Shakedown12.00pm: FIA Pre-Event Press Conference (Media CentreZnith Strasbourg)4.25pm: Cars leave parc ferme4.30pm: SS1Strasbourg (3.63km)5.03pm: Service Park A (15 min)5.18pm: Parc fermeFRIDAY 5 OCTOBER7.45am: Service Park B (15 min)9.23am: SS2Hohlandsbourg/Firstplan 1 (28.67km)10.06am: SS3Valle de Munster 1 (22.16km)11.22am: SS4Soultzeren/Pays Welche 1 (19.93km)1.15pm: Remote Service Park C (Colmar - 15 min)1.56pm: SS5Hohlandsbourg/Firstplan 2 (28.67km)2.39pm: SS6Valle de Munster 2 (22.16km)3.55pm: SS7Soultzeren/Pays Welche 2 (19.93km)6.25pm: Regroup (Mulhouse40 min)6.35pm: SS8Mulhouse (4.65km)8.15pm: Service Park D (45 min)SATURDAY 6 OCTOBER7.30am: Service Park E (15 min)8.38am: SS9Massif des Grands Crus/Ungersberg 1 (18.16km)9.36am: SS10Pays dOrmont 1 (43.45km)10.47am: SS11Pays de la Haute Bruche 1 (24.04km)11.45am: SS12Klevener 1 (10.75km)1.15pm: Service Park F (30 min)2.38pm: SS13Massif des Grands Crus/Ungersberg 2 (18.16km)3.36pm: SS14Pays dOrmont 2 (43.45km)4.47pm: SS15Pays de la Haute Bruche 2 (24.04km)5.45pm: SS16Klevener 2 (10.75km)6.45pm: Service Park G (45 min)SUNDAY 7 OCTOBER7.50am: Service Park H (15 min)9.23am: SS17Vignoble de Cleebourg 1 (17.08km)10.46am: SS18Bischwiller/Gries 1 (7.95km)11.16am: SS19Haguenau 1 (5.74km)11.26am: Regroup (Haguenau40 min)12.44pm: SS20Vignoble de Cleebourg 2Power Stage (17.08km)2.07pm: SS21Bischwiller/Gries 2 (7.95km)2.37pm: SS22Haguenau 2 (5.74km)3.37pm: Service Park I (10 min)4.00pm: Podium (Znith Strasbourg)4.45pm: FIA Post-Event Press Conference (Media CentreZnith Strasbourg)
CREW RECORDS PRIOR TO THIS RALLYSbastien Loeb Daniel Elena Mikko Hirvonen Jarmo LehtinenFirst rallySpain 99Saxo Kit Car / Retd.Monte Carlo 97106 / Retd.Finland 02Clio S1600 / 21stFinland 97Civic gr. N / 38thWRC rallies 161 163 134 138Wins 74 74 14 14Junior titles 2001 - - -WRC titles 8 (2004-2011) 8 (2004-2011) - -CREW RECORDS IN FRANCESbastien Loeb / Daniel Elena Mikko Hirvonen / Jarmo Lehtinen2011 Retired (C4 WRC) 3rd (Focus RS WRC)2010 1st (C4 WRC) 5th (Focus RS WRC)2008 1st (C4 WRC) 2nd (Focus RS WRC)2007 1st (C4 WRC) 13th (Focus RS WRC)2006 1st (Xsara WRC) 4th (Focus RS WRC)2005 1st (Xsara WRC) -2004 2nd (Xsara WRC) 10th (Impreza WRC)2003 13th (Xsara WRC) 10th (Focus RS WRC)2001 13th (Saxo S1600) -2000 9th (Corolla WRC) -1999 19th (Saxo group A) -
