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After a year’s absence, the Rallye de France returns to the FIA World Rally Championship calendar. Now based in Alsace, this new rally will allow the Citroën Junior Team to perform in front of its local crowd on home territory. Two Citroën C4 WRCs will be entered for Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia and Kimi Räikkönen/Kaj Lindström.

Following 35 World Championship events in Corsica, the Rallye de France now heads for Alsace. Based in Strasbourg, this all­new rally covers the whole region, visiting Mulhouse and Colmar (day one), Obernai (day two) and Haguenau (day three).

Although the event takes place in France, Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia only have limited knowledge of the route. “I’ve not been back here since taking part in the Alsace­Vosges Rally three years ago,” pointed out Sébastien. “At the time it was just my second season in rallying, and I eventually finished second in my class after having to work my way back up through the order at the end of the event. All that feels like an age ago now!”

Having won in Portugal and Japan so far this year, Sébastien intends to use the Rallye de France to demonstrate his capabilities on asphalt. “With a new rally like this we start on an equal footing with everyone else in terms of experience,” he said. “That was the case in Bulgaria earlier this year as well, where we managed to set some good stage times. We need to make sure that we do a good job during the recce so that we are right on the pace from the very first run through the stages. I’ve got every confidence that the team will soon find the right set­up for the Citroën C4 WRC in these conditions. The goal for us is to be as close as possible to the very best…”

Kimi Räikkönen is becoming more and more competitive with every stage that he drives in the Citroën C4 WRC, and he was able to take the wheel of the car again recently at the Rallye Vosgien. The 2007 Formula One World Champion claimed his first rally victory on this former round of the French Rally Championship.

“We came to the rally to accumulate more kilometres of experience on asphalt,” explained Kimi. “It was more useful than a straightforward test, as it allowed us to try out quite a variety of special stages. The level in the World Rally Championship now is so high that you cannot afford to lose a single second. So you have to be completely ready from the very start. From what I have heard, the roads we have driven on during that practice event will be very similar to what we will find on the Rallye de France itself. It’s very positive to be able to prepare for a rally in this way.”

The Finn usually feels comfortable on asphalt, having set his first fastest stage time on the World Championship at the Rallye Deutschland. He will also have the advantage of competing on a rally that is brand new to everyone.

“This was the case in Turkey and in Bulgaria, both of which went well for us,” he added. “When we have the same amount of experience as the other crews, it’s definitely easier for us to be on the pace. Once again, this is proof that the key to it all is to stay patient and build up as much experience as possible.”

 

Three questions to… Sébastien Ogier

Over the course of the last three rallies you have scored more points than any of your rivals. Do you think that somehow you have turned a corner?

“Compared to our direct rivals we are younger and we have less experience, but with every rally we’re beginning to build up more of what is necessary to succeed in the WRC. The Citroën C4 WRC is a benchmark in its field and we are very well integrated into the team. All these parameters help us to make progress and get some good results. Currently, we’re on a very good upward curve.”

For the first time, you’ll be driving a Citroën C4 WRC in France. Do you think you will get some special support?

“It’s going to be a real pleasure driving at home in France. We’re going to be able to rely on the loyal support of our fans, even though I imagine that all of Alsace will be behind Sébastien Loeb! It feels a little bit like going back to my roots as I drove in Alsace before in 1997, which was only my second season of rallying. But I’m not putting any extra pressure on myself. It’s a new rally and it will be important to prepare for it well on the recce. It’s going to be vital to have the right pace notes. And that’s an area in which myself and Julien Ingrassia are quite strong.”

Even though you’re known by some people as a gravel specialist, your initial performances on asphalt with the Citroën C4 WRC have been remarkable. What are your objectives in France?

“We got off to a very good start in Bulgaria by fighting with Dani Sordo and Petter Solberg. In Germany it was more difficult, as we were dealing with roads that we did not know as well as our rivals did. In France this year, where nobody has any more experience than anybody else, we will hopefully be able to play our trump card. Our goal is reduce the gap that we have compared to the best drivers on asphalt.”

 

Useful information

Surface: asphalt

Where: Strasbourg

Practical information: The service park and Media Centre are in Le Zenith, Strasbourg. Rally HQ is in the Centre Administratif de Strasbourg. On the first day of the rally, Friday 1 October, the sun will rise at 0729 and set at 1907. In September, average temperatures range between 9ºC in the morning and 18ºC in the afternoon. The local currency is the Euro.

Technical: The two Citroën C4 WRCs will use a new engine, which will have to be used until the end of the season (in Spain and Great Britain). The transmission and spare parts will have to be shared with the forthcoming Catalunya Rally.

Tyres: A total of 36 Pirelli PZero tyres will be available to each crew, to be chosen from 24 hard­compound tyres and 22 soft­compound tyres.

Reconnaissance: This will take place on Tuesday 28 September between 0730 and 2045 and Wednesday 29 September between 0800 and 1630 with a maximum of two passes allowed over each special stage.

Shakedown: This will take place on Thursday 30 September between 0800 and 1200 at the Quartier Hautepierre – Parc des Sports on a 2.4­kilometre stage that starts 400m from the service park.

Route: Total length of 1272.31km, of which 352.88km are competitive. There are 20 stages in total (10 different stages).

Timing: Day 1 – 560.39km of which 145.86km are competitive. Total of 8 stages, 4 different stages. Friday 1 October – start at 0730 – SS1 Hohlandsbourg 1 (9.90 km) – SS2: Firstplan 1 (16.58 km) – SS3: Vallée de Munster 1 (22.33 km) – SS4: Grand Ballon 1 (24.12 km) – Remote Service A Mulhouse (1242 / 15 min) – SS5: Hohlandsbourg 2 (9.90 km) – SS6: Firstplan 2 (16.58 km) – SS7: Vallée de Munster 2 (22.33 km) – SS8: Grand Ballon 2 (24.12 km) – Service B (1902 / 45 min) – Last car into parc fermé at 2250.

Day 2 – Saturday 2 October – 449.05 km of which 149.22 km are competitive (8 stages, 4 different stages). Start at 0715 – Service C (0730 / 15 min) – SS9: Klevener 1 (10.54 km) – SS10: Ungersberg 1 (15.50 km) – SS11: Pays d’Ormont 1 (35.48 km) – SS12: Salm 1 (13.39 km) – Service D (1303 / 30 min) – SS13: Klevener 2 (10.54 km) – SS14: Ungersberg 2 (15.50 km) – SS15: Pays d’Ormont 2

(35.48 km) – SS16: Salm 2 (13.39 km) – Service E (1824 / 45 min) – Last car into parc fermé at 2230.

Day 3 – Sunday 3 October – 262.87 km of which 57.80 km are competitive (4 stages, 2 different stages). Start: 0700 – Service F (0715 / 15 min) – SS17: Haguenau 1 (4.20 km) – SS18: Bitche Camp 1 (24.70 km) – SS19: Bitche Camp 2 (12.16 km) – SS20: Haguenau 2 (4.20 km) –Service G (1434 / 10 min) – Finish at 1459.

Final podium: Sunday 3 October, from 1515.

Final press conference: Sunday 3 October at 1600 in the media centre.

The crews before this rally:

Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia: First WRC rally: Mexico 08 (C2 Super 1600 / 8th) – WRC rallies: 30 – Victories: 2 – Junior title: 2008 (C2 S1600).

Kimi Räikkönen: First WRC rally : Finland 09 (Punto Super 2000 / ret.) – WRC rallies : 10.

Kaj Lindström: First WRC rally : Finland 96 (Golf GTI / ret.) – WRC rallies : 71 – Victories : 1.

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