Before the Tour de Corse
With the battle for the Constructors` championship still raging, Citroen Sport`s Team Principal Guy Frequelin is asking his two drivers to bring as much points as possible for the team. A clear and simple strategy to win the fight against Peugeot.
You`ve competed in the Tour of Corsica ten times yourself as a driver. You know the stages very well. What are the keys to success on this rally?
"Finding the right pace and reading the weather well. As in my day, you need to find the right flow in Corsica as you `throw` the car from one corner to the next. That can be very demanding physically but it`s such a pleasure for a driver. The roads beckon you to push… but you`ve got to make sure you don`t get carried away! The other key factor is the weather. The Tour of Corsica is one of those rallies, if not the rally, which are the most difficult to call in this area. Today, drivers no longer chose their tyres at the start of each stage. Decisions are taken a long time before the due start time, and sometimes well before the start of the loop`s second stage. On such a mountainous, sunny island as Corsica, the roads have ample time to get wet and then dry out again in the interim, so you`ve got an even bigger chance of being caught on inappropriate rubber."
Citroën stands out as clear favourite for Corsica. How do you cope with that?
"There`s got to be a favourite and, given our recent results on asphalt, it`s us. That said, it is always possible for our rivals to make a big jump forward. That`s what enabled us to catch them by surprise in New Zealand. The results of the opening stages will provide a clearer picture… As for coping with our position as favourites, that`s not a problem. We have a competitive car and two talented crews, but we are also all aware that it would be dangerous to simply rest on our laurels. I would also add that, at this moment in time, with our possible return to the WRC under consideration, the best way to get a chance to come back is to deliver results."
Sébastien Loeb sewed up the Drivers` title in Japan. What sort of influence will that have on your other objective which is to win the Manufacturers` championship?
"It doesn`t change much! The personal pressure is off Seb and he can now focus on the Manufacturers` title. I know he really wants to win the Tour of Corsica and that`s fine so long as it doesn`t lead him to take excessive risks. The two objectives are compatible. He is quite capable of handling this sort of situation. Rally Japan also highlighted the fact that François Duval is once again driving well and has his confidence back. That`s a plus for us. My recommendation to my two drivers is the same though: be at the finish."


Tags: citroen, tour-de-corse, france, guy-frequelin,