The Citroën Total World Rally Team are looking to get back on the podium and finish on a high at the conclusion of the WRC season in Australia. With Sébastien Ogier / Julien Ingrassia and Esapekka Lappi / Janne Ferm leading the charge, it has every chance of doing just that.
Having held the overall lead during eight stages at last year’s rally before ultimately finishing third, the C3 WRC has already shown that it is perfectly at home Down Under. Now placed in the expert hands of Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia, three-time winners of this event (2013, 2014 and 2015), it is expecting to get back among the frontrunners, especially as the car has consistently improved on gravel throughout the season.
It won’t, however, be plain sailing for the Citroën Total World Rally Team’s French crew who will be starting from third on the road on Friday’s leg. Whilst Ogier and Ingrassia’s starting position means they should have the beginnings of a line to follow – as long as the weather stays dry – the thick layer of loose gravel will certainly not have been entirely swept off the roads by the time they come through the stages. However, the team knows it can rely upon the six-time World Champions to show plenty of skill and fighting spirit to counteract their starting position.
Meanwhile, Esapekka Lappi and Janne Ferm should enjoy better and more consistent grip from ninth position in the running order on day one, again provided that the weather remains dry. The Finnish duo are certainly determined to try and make the most of their position to conclude their first season with Citroën with the best possible result, adding to the three runner-up spots they have secured in the C3 WRC (Sweden, Finland and Turkey).
Esapekka and Janne have already shown that they are capable of producing genuine speed on these roads, where you need to be fully committed. They were joint leaders last year with the C3 WRC of Mads Østberg and Torstein Eriksen after SS2, before issues caused by a water splash dropped them out of contention for overall victory.
REACTIONS FROM…
Pierre Budar, Citroën Racing Team Principal: “We have learned a few lessons from Spain and everyone on the team is totally committed to getting back on the podium in Australia, as well as continuing to plan for 2020 so that we can start the new season in the best possible shape. If the weather stays dry, then Esapekka and Janne will have a great chance here. It’s an event everyone on the team really likes. Meanwhile, although Sébastien and Julien aren’t as well placed in the running order, they have already proven in the past that they are capable of producing very strong performances from that kind of position.”
Sébastien Ogier, Citroën Total WRT driver: “The target is now to finish the season on a high, and secure a final win. We know, however, that this is a rally where it’s always very tough to be high up the running order if the weather stays dry. I hope the fact two cars will be running ahead of us means we’ll be in better shape to make the most of it, especially as overall, the stages are pretty fun to drive. There are also a few changes to the itinerary to contend with this year. We’ll need to limit the time lost on Friday so that we have a better road position for the rest of the weekend.”
