The final round of the 2012 season, Rally de Espana will provide the crews with the last opportunity of the year to showcase their talents.
With fourth position his best result to date, Thierry Neuville and Nicolas Gilsoul (Citron Junior World Rally Team) will be determined tofinish on the podium in their DS3 WRC. Newcomers to the Citron Racing family, Hans Weijs Jr. and Bjorn Degandt will be drawing ontheir experience to produce the goods on the Costa Daurada stages.
Hosting the final round of the World Rally Championship for the first time this year, Rally de Espana offers a full menuto the competitors. After a first leg held predominantly on gravel, the cars will be converted to tarmac configuration forthe next two days. The rally is famous for the wide, sweeping circuit-style roads of the province of Tarragona, and it isan event at which Citron has an excellent record.
Thierry Neuville and Nicolas Gilsoul will be completing their first full season in WRC here in Spain. Currently seventh inthe overall standings, their best results to date are three top 5 finishes (4th in France, 5th in Argentina and NewZealand). My aim was to be battling for a place on the podium by the end of the championship and that will be mygoal in Catalonia, stated the Belgian driver. I am already familiar with this rally, having competed here in 2009 in aC2-R2 MAX. Although the rally was run exclusively on tarmac at the time, I have a little experience on these roads. Ihad really enjoyed the stages, which dont get too dirty as more cars complete their runs. With good pace notes and aperfectly-balanced car, there is a lot of pleasure to be had behind the wheel!
Like his rivals, Thierry will have to contend with the rallys mixed surfaces: In theory, I like the idea of racing on twodifferent surfaces at the same rally. I know, however, that I may well be a bit less competitive on gravel. I hope to avoidlosing too much time on the first day. To do that, Ill need to qualify well and choose the best possible starting positionfor Friday. I have to keep the most important thing in mind: with over 400km of timed stages, its going to be a longrally, so perhaps Ill need to be prepared to drive a little bit less quickly to keep out of trouble. I know its an importantrally in terms of my future. Finishing the season on a high note would certainly improve our chances of being here againnext year, which is what we want.
For its twelfth rally of the year, the Qatar World Rally Teams DS3 WRC will be entrusted to Hans Weijs Jr. and BjornDegandt. With 26 World Rally Championship events under his belt, the 25 year-old Dutchman already has plenty oftop-level experience. Competing in a Citron C2-R2 MAX and a C2 Super 1600, his three seasons in J-WRC haveallowed him to hone and showcase his driving skills, which helped him to finish as Championship runner-up in 2010.I have competed in the rally on four previous occasions and have good memories of racing here, especially the 2009rally, as that was where I claimed by first win in J-WRC, recalled Hans. This year, I have been competing in the SouthAfrican Championship. Although we have had a tough year, it was fantastic to discover new horizons and to build upmy experience. I am now thrilled to have this opportunity, which will enable me to drive what is currently the bestWRC. I had the chance to drive the DS3 WRC in a test session, but I know I wont be 100% in Catalonia. It is difficultto set a target, but obviously I hope to make it to the end without making any mistakes.
