WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON GUIDE. All photos courtesy of WRC.com

Transcription

1 2018 WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON GUIDE All photos courtesy of WRC.com

2 M-SPORT FORD WORLD RALLY TEAM Car: HQ: Team principal: Technical director: Ford Fiesta WRC Cumbria, England Malcolm Wilson Christian Loriaux wrc.com TEAMS STATISTICS Debut: Monte Carlo 2006 (14. Tsojen, 15. Wilson jr with Ford Focus WRC) Rallies: 163 (with Ford Focus RS, Ford Fiesta) Wins: 5 (2 Ogier, 2 Tänak, 1 Evans) First win: Monte Carlo 2017 with Sebastien Ogier (Ford Fiesta WRC) Last win: Wales GB 2017 with Elfyn Evans (Ford Fiesta WRC) SS wins: 194 Podiums: 36 Drivers Champ.: 1 (2017 with Ogier) Constructors Champ.: 1 (2017 with Ford Fiesta WRC) 2017 Finally Malcolm Wilson took his first drivers title in WRC. He had the best driver, but it was not so easy. Ogier struggled a lot to adapt to the new car. Even his teammate Tänak looked faster than him in many rallies and Neuville (with Hyundai) was a real contender for the title. Ogier won only twice last year, as opposed to the number of wins of the previous season with Volkswagen. But he was consistent: 9 times on podium. Neuville, who won 4 times (double than Ogier), finished on the podium only 8 times and that s why Ogier in the end won the championship. But it wasn t only Ogier s win but a win of all the team, as M Sport won races more than the other team and with all their drivers For 2018 the team has received some more backing from Ford (the name Ford appears again on the team s name), an updated car, but has lost one of his drivers: Ott Tänak. The estonian was more than a good second driver in 2017 as he was in the fight for the title almost to the end of the season. Evans needs to show that he can do the same. THE DRIVERS Ogier is again the favourite for the drivers title. Evans impressed positively in 2017 with DMACK tyres, this year he replaces Tänak in the second car and needs more consistency. For the third car Bouffier will start the season in Monte Carlo, but Suninen should be driving for most part of the season. For Bouffier it will be his first attempt with the new WRC, so don t expect too much from him. Suninen had a strong debut with WRC last season in Poland and Finland, rallies that he knows very well but this year he will visit new rallies for the first time with a WRC car. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS (from wrc.com) ENGINE TYPE Bore x Stroke Power (max) Torque (max) Transmission type Gearbox Differentials Clutch Suspension Steering Brakes (Gravel) Brakes (Asphalt) Wheels Length Width Wheelbase Weight IN-LINE FOUR CYLINDER, 1.6 LITRE, BO DIRECT INJECTION 83.0 mm / 73.9 mm 380 hp (280 kw) at 6,000 rpm 450 Nm at 5,500 rpm Four-wheel drive Six-speed sequential gearbox developed by M-Sport and Ricardo with hydraulic shift Mechanical front and rear differentials with active centre differential Multi disc clutch developed by M-Sport and AP Racing MacPherson struts with Reiger adjustable dampers Power-assisted rack and pinion (front and rear): 300mm Brembo ventilated discs with Brembo four- piston monoblock calipers. (front and rear): 370mm/355mm Brembo ventilated discs with Brembo four-piston monoblock calipers. 8 x 18 inch for tarmac, 7 x 15 inch for gravel ; Michelin tyres mm mm mm kg minimum / kg with crew

3 Born December 17, 1983 in Gap, Hautes Alpes Debut: Mexico 2008 (8 th with Citroen C2 S1600) Starts: 123 (104 with WRC cars: 39 with Citroen, 52 with Volkswagen, 13 with Ford) Wins: 40 (24 on gravel, 13 on tarmac, 3 on snow) First win: Portugal 2010 with Citroen C4 WRC Last win: Portugal 2017 with Ford Fiesta WRC Podiums: 65 SS wins: 501 Power Stage wins: 35 Points: Titles: 5 (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017) 2008 JWRC Champion (Citroen C2 S1600) Born December 28, 1988 in Dolgellau, Wales Debut: Wales GB 2007 (42 nd with Ford Fiesta ST) Starts: 63 (40 with WRC cars: all with Ford) Wins: 1 (on gravel) First win: Wales GB 2017 with Ford Fiesta WRC Podiums: 5 SS wins: 30 Power Stage wins: 0 Points: WRC Academy Champion (Ford Fiesta R2) Born December 1, 1978 in Die, Drôme Debut: Italy 2007 (29 th with Citroen C2 R2) Starts: 17 (7 with WRC cars: 4 with Ford, 2 with Hyundai, 1 with Citroen) Wins: 0 Best result: 2 nd, Monte Carlo 2014 with Ford Fiesta WRC Podiums: 1 SS wins: 3 Power Stage wins: 0 Points: 35 Born February 1, 1994 in Jokela, Uusima Debut: Finland 2014 (17th with Citroen DS3 R3T) Starts: 28 (2 with WRC cars: all with Ford) Wins: 0 Best result: 4 th, Finland 2017 with Ford Fiesta WRC Podiums: 0 SS wins: 4 Power Stage wins: 0 Points: 37 1 SÉBASTIEN OGIER FRANCE 2008 Citroen C2 S1.6/C4 WRC (1. JWRC) 2009 Citroen C4 WRC Citroen C4 WRC Citroen DS3 WRC Skoda Fabia S VW Polo R WRC VW Polo R WRC VW Polo R WRC VW Polo R WRC Ford Fiesta WRC ELFYN EVANS UNITED KINGDOM JULIEN INGRASSIA Born: November 26, 1979 in Aix-en-Provence, France Debut: Mexico 2008 with Ogier Starts: 123 (all with Ogier) Wins: 40 (all with Ogier) Titles: 5 (all with Ogier) DANIEL BARRITT Born: August 23, 1980 in Barrowford, England Debut: Wales GB 2000 (Portugal 2013 with Evans) Starts: 89 (32 with Evans) Wins: 1 (with Evans) Best season: 5 th, 2017 with Evans 2007 Ford Fiesta ST NC Ford Fiesta R NC 2012 Ford Fiesta R WRC Academy 2013 Ford Fiesta RRC/WRC/R (7. WRC2) 2014 Ford Fiesta WRC Ford Fiesta WRC Ford Fiesta R (3. WRC2) 2017 Ford Fiesta WRC BRYAN BOUFFIER FRANCE 2007 Citroen C2 R NC (20. JWRC) Peugeot 207 S NC 2013 Citroen DS3 WRC/R3T (6. WRC3) 2014 Ford/Hyundai WRC Ford WRC/Peugeot R Ford WRC/Citroen R NC 2017 Ford Fiesta R (21.WRC2) 3 TEEMU SUNINEN FINLAND MCO 1. R R SWE MEX R FRA ARG POR ITA 22. R R FIN R DEU R WAL 26. R R CAT R R R R AUS MCO SWE R MEX FRA ARG POR ITA R FIN R R DEU WAL 42. R CAT R AUS JÉRÔME DEGOUT Born: May 12, 1976 in France Debut: Monte Carlo 2016 (Monte Carlo 2018 with Bouffier) Starts: 2 (0 with Bouffier) Wins: 0 (best: 14 th, Monte Carlo 2016 with Matthieu) Best season: - MIKKO MARKKULA Born: January 3, 1981 in Hämeenlinna, Finland Debut: Finland 2001 (Portugal 2015 with Suninen) Starts: 85 (27 with Suninen) Wins: 0 (Best: 2 nd, Sweden 2014 with Mikkelsen) Best season: 3 rd, 2014 with Mikkelsen 2014 Citroen DS3 R3T NC (8. WRC3) 2015 Citroen/Skoda/Ford NC (10. WRC2) 2016 Skoda Fabia R (2. WRC2) 2017 Ford Fiesta R5/WRC (3. WRC2) MCO R R R 10. SWE MEX FRA R R ARG 31. POR 13. ITA 29. FIN DEU R R WAL R CAT AUS MCO 12. SWE MEX 9. FRA ARG POR R ITA FIN DEU WAL CAT AUS

4 HYUNDAI SHELL MOBIS WORLD RALLY TEAM Car: HQ: Team principal: Technical director: Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC Frankfurt, Germany Michel Nandan Alain Penasse wrc.com TEAMS STATISTICS Debut: Sweden 2000 (13. K. Eriksson, 14. A. McRae with Hyundai Accent WRC) Rallies: 100 (with Hyundai Accent, Hyundai i20) Wins: 7 (6 Neuville, 1 Paddon) First win: Last win: Deutschland 2014 with Thierry Neuville (Hyundai i20 WRC) Australia 2017 with Thierry Neuville (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC) SS wins: 180 Podiums: 27 Best result (drivers): 2 nd, 2016 and 2017 with Thierry Neuville Best result (constr.): 2 nd, 2016 and Last year the Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC was probably the fastest in the WRC. If you really want to find a defect, it looked a little bit fragile: for example, the crash that tooked Neuville out of the rally in Germany or what happened to Mikkelsen in Catalunya. But it was fast enough to challenge for the title. Neuville won 4 races, more of any other, but he was the only winner of the Hyundai armada For 2018 Hyundai retained Neuville, who will go again for the title, and Mikkelsen, who arrived only in the last part of the season last year contesting only 3 rounds but he adapted quickly to the Hyundai. Paddon and Sordo were also retained but they will share the third car throughout the season. Probably Sordo will race in all the tarmac rounds, while Paddon will do mainly gravel rallies. THE DRIVERS Neuville starts as the number 1 in the team and he s the main opponent to Ogier. Last year he won 4 races, doubling the number of Ogier s wins, but still that wasn t enough for the title. Big mistakes while leading in Monte Carlo and Sweden became a factor later in the year. If he wants to beat Ogier he needs to be perfect in every rally. Mikkelsen had a troubled 2017: left without a seat after Volkswagen s withdrawal, he had to step back to WRC2 with a Skoda Fabia R5. Then Citroen called him in the middle of the season. But that car was very difficult to drive, expecially on gravel. A 2nd place in Germany (on tarmac) wasn t enough to keep him in the french team and, when the opportunity arose, decided to swich to Hyundai, where he adapted rather quickly. Could be a threat for Neuville if he finds confidence with the car. For Paddon, after a promising 2016, last year was a step back: two rookie mistakes in Monte Carlo and Sardinia and two crashes in the same rally in Finland were the worst moments of his season. But he also lacked pace in other events. Positive notes were the speed he showed in Sardinia (before the crash), and the two podiums. He needs to start from those results to mount his challenge this year. Running only selected events in 2018 could help to take some pressure off him. Sordo is the second most experience driver in WRC (after Latvala) but he has won only once in WRC so far. And it doesn t seem he can increase that number. He will drive selected events this year, events that he knows very well, so expect him to challenge for the podium but not for the win. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS (from wrc.com) ENGINE TYPE IN-LINE FOUR CYLINDER, 1.6 LITRE, BO DIRECT INJECTION Bore / stroke 83.0 mm / 73.9 mm Power (max) 380 hp (280 kw) at 6,500 rpm Torque (max) 450 Nm at rpm Transmission type Four-wheel drive Gearbox Sequential gearbox, six forward gears and one reverse with paddle shift Differential Hydraulic in centre, mechanical with ramps in front and rear Clutch Cerametallic twin-disk Suspension MacPherson Steering Hydraulic power-assisted rack and pinion Brakes Ventilated Brembo disc brakes (370mm on tarmac, 300mm on gravel). Air-cooled 4 piston callipers. Wheels 8 x 18 inch for tarmac, 7 x 15 inch for gravel ; Michelin tyres Length 4,100 mm Width 1,875 mm 1,820 mm 2,570 mm Weight 1,190 kg minimum / kg with crew

5 4 ANDREAS MIKKELSEN NORWAY Born June 22, 1989 in Oslo 2006 Ford Focus RS WRC NC Debut: Wales GB 2006 (retired with Ford Focus WRC 04) 2007 Ford Focus RS WRC NC Starts: 87 (71 with WRC cars: 16 with Ford, 1 with Skoda 2008 Ford Focus RS WRC with Volkswagen, 3 with Citroen, 3 with Hyundai) 2009 Subaru/Skoda WRC NC (NC in PWRC) Wins: 3 (2 on gravel, 1 on tarmac) 2010 Ford S2000/Skoda S (11th SWRC) First win: Catalunya 2015 with Volkswagen Polo R WRC 2011 Skoda Fabia S NC 2012 Skoda Fabia S Last win: Australia 2016 with Volkswagen Polo R WRC 2013 Volkswagen Polo WRC Podiums: Volkswagen Polo WRC SS wins: Volkswagen Polo WRC Power Stage wins: Volkswagen Polo WRC Points: Skoda/Citroen/Hyundai (9. WRC2) 2011 IRC Champion (Skoda Fabia S2000) 2012 IRC Champion (Skoda Fabia S2000) 5 THIERRY NEUVILLE BELGIUM Born June 16, 1988 in St. Vith, Wallonia 2009 Citroen C2 R NC Debut: Catalunya 2009 (ret. with Citroen C2 R2) 2010 Citroen C2 S NC (7. JWRC) Starts: 84 (78 with WRC cars: 13 with Citroen, 13 with Ford, 52 with Hyundai) 2012 Citroen DS3 WRC Wins: 6 (3 on gravel, 3 on tarmac) 2013 Ford Fiesta RS WRC First win: Deutschland 2014 with Hyundai i30 WRC 2014 Hyundai i20 WRC Hyundai i20 WRC Last win: Australia 2017 with Hyundai i30 Coupe WRC 2016 Hyundai i20 WRC Podiums: Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC SS wins: 135 Power Stage wins: 9 Points: WRC Academy Champion (Ford Fiesta R2) 6 DANI SORDO SPAIN ANDERS JÆGER Born: July 29, 1989 in Oslo, Norway Debut: Catalunya 2014 (Monte Carlo 2016 with Mikkelsen) Starts: 31 (22 with Mikkelsen) Wins: 2 (all with Mikkelsen) Best season: 3 rd, 2016 with Mikkelsen MCO SWE MEX R FRA DQ ARG R R 3. POR R ITA R 7. R FIN R R 7. DEU WAL R R CAT R R 18. AUS NICOLAS GILSOUL Born: February 5, 1982 in Chênée, Belgium Debut: Monte Carlo 2007 (Monte Carlo 2012 with Neuville) Starts: 80 (78 with Neuville) Wins: 6 (all with Neuville) Best season: 2 nd, 2013, 2016, 2017 with Neuville CARLOS DEL BARRIO Born: August 15, 1968 in Santander, Cantabria Debut: Portugal 1994 (Argentina 2004 with Sordo) Starts: 78 (30 with Sordo) Wins: 1 (with Sordo) Best result: 7 th, 2006 with Pons, 2017 with Sordo Born May 2, 1983 in Torrelavega, Cantabria 2003 Mitsubishi Laner NC 2004 Mitsubishi/Citroen S NC 2005 Citroen C2 S NC (1. JWRC) 2006 Citroen Xsara WRC Citroen C4 WRC Citroen C4 WRC Citroen C4 WRC Citroen C4 WRC Mini JCW WRC Mini WRC/Ford WRC Citroen DS3 WRC Hyundai i20 WRC Hyundai i20 WRC Hyundai i20 WRC Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC Debut: Spain 2003 (18th with Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII) Starts: 152 (141 in WRC: 84 with Citroen, 13 with Mini, 1 with Ford, 42 with Hyundai) Wins: 1 (on tarmac) Podiums: 42 SS wins: 169 Power Stage wins: 4 Points: JWRC Champion (Citroen C2 S1600) Born April 20, 1987 in Geraldine, Canterbury Debut: New Zealand 2007 (49 th with Mitsubishi Lancer) Starts: 72 (44 with WRC cars: 1 with Ford, 43 with Hyundai) Wins: 1 First win: Argentina 2016 with Hyundai i20 WRC Podiums: 6 SS wins: 32 Power Stage wins: 1 Points: PWRC Champion (Subaru Impreza WRX STI) 6 HAYDEN PADDON NEW ZEALAND SEBASTIAN MARSHALL Born: May 29, 1988 in Tunbridge Wells, England Debut: Deutschland 2008 (Portugal 2017 with Paddon) Starts: 40 (7 with Paddon) Wins: 0 (Best: 2nd, Poland 2017 with Paddon) Best result: 12 th, 2017 with Paddon 2007 Mitsubishi Lancer NC (NC PWRC) 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer NC (21. PWRC) 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer NC 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer NC (3. PWRC) 2011 Subaru Impreza (1. PWRC) 2012 Skoda Fabia S NC (4. SWRC) 2013 Skoda S2000/Ford WRC (13. WRC2) 2014 Hyundai i20 WRC Hyundai i20 WRC Hyundai i20 WRC Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC MCO R R R R SWE MEX R 3. FRA ARG R POR R ITA FIN NS R DEU R R WAL R CAT R R AUS MCO R SWE R R MEX FRA 3. R R ARG R 9. R POR R ITA FIN R R DEU R WAL CAT R AUS MCO 25. R SWE MEX FRA 35. R ARG POR R R ITA R R FIN R R 5. R DEU WAL R CAT AUS

6 TOYOTA GAZOO RACING WORLD RALLY TEAM Car: HQ: Team principal: Technical director: Toyota Yaris WRC Rovaniemi, Finland Tommy Makinen wrc.com TEAMS STATISTICS Debut: Monte Carlo 2017 (2. Latvala, ret. Hänninen with Toyota Yaris WRC) Rallies: 13 (with Toyota Yaris) Wins: 2 (1 Latvala, 1 Lappi) First win: Sweden 2017 with Jari-Matti Latvala (Toyota Yaris WRC) Last win: Finland 2017 with Esapekka Lappi (Toyota Yaris WRC) SS wins: 49 Podiums: 4 Best result (drivers): 4 th, 2017 with Jari-Matti Latvala Best result (constr.): 3 rd, Toyota impressed everyone in Monte Carlo 2017 with a competitive car and a competitive team. Latvala finished the first rally for Toyota in second place. Then in Sweden it went even better with the finnish winning the event. Many at the start of the year were doubting the team s professionalism, but Makinen and a great Latvala silenced them all. There had been some issues with the car, expecially during the middle part of the season, with Latvala loosing potentially 2 wictories in Poland and Finland. But Lappi was there in Finland to benefit from his retirement set a high target for the team. In 2018 the difficult task is to improve. It means that they need more wins and battle for the title with Hyundai and Ford. The team has been reinforced by the arrival of Ott Tänak from Ford. The estonian could be a threat for Latvala, as the team is the only one without a clear number 1 within the team as Latvala and Tänak have both experience and speed to target victories in every round. Together with Lappi, it makes for a competitive trio of drivers, all very fast but all three very prone to costly mistakes. THE DRIVERS Latvala, after a terrible 2016, enjoyed one of the best season of his career in 2017, returning to win. But more importantly, he was the driver with less mistakes during last season. The finnish driver rolled in Poland (but he raced ill) and crashes out of the last stage in Australia, when he was set to finish second. An unforgivable mistake, but that was his only big mistake. If he keeps doying with his performance (and his car doesn t let him down so many times like last year) he could win many rallies and have a say for the title. Tänak s performance in 2017 was terrifying: teammate to a driver like Ogier, he could go faster than the french in many rallies. He won his first rally in Italy and did it again in Germany, showing that he has found his speed also on tarmac. If it weren t for some stupid mistakes between those two rallies, later he could have had a go for the title. With more maturity he could become another title contender. Lappi was also incredible in his first season with a WRC car. He started only in Portugal, but the next rally in Italy he won same super stages and, in only his 4th rally in a WRC car, he won Rally Finland. On the other side, he was too erratic in other events. Probably it s too early to count him as a title contender, but expect him to battle for wins more frequently than in TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS (from wrc.com) Engine Power Torque Bore / Stroke Gearbox Drive Clutch Suspension Steering Brakes Length Width Wheelbase Weight Top speed 4-cylinder, 1600cc turbo, direct injection 380PS 425Nm 83.8mm / 72.5mm 6-speed hydraulic shift 4-wheel drive, active centre and mechanical front and rear differentials Double plate MacPherson Hydraulic rack and pinion 300mm gravel / 370mm asphalt 4085mm 1875mm 2511mm 1190kg 201kph

7 Born April 3, 1985 in Töysä, S. Ostrobothnia Debut: Wales GB 2002 (17th with Mitsubishi Lancer) Starts: 182 (144 with WRC cars: 90, with Ford, 15 with Toyota, 52 with Volkswagen) Wins: 17 (11 on gravel, 2 on tarmac, 4 on snow) First win: Sweden 2008 with Ford Focus RS WRC Last win: Sweden 2017 with Toyota Yaris WRC Podiums: 60 SS wins: 493 Power Stage wins: 14 Points: JARI MATTI LATVALA FRANCE MIKKA ANTTILA Born: September 10, 1972 in Janakkala, Finland Debut: Finland 1999 (Deutschland 2003 with Latvala) Starts: 193 (179 with Latvala) Wins: 17 (all with Latvala) Best season: 2 nd, 2010, 2014, 2015 with Latvala 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer NC 2003 Ford Focus WRC NC 2004 Various cars NC (13. JWRC) 2005 Toyota/Subaru/Ford NC 2006 Subaru/Ford/Toyota (4. PWRC) 2007 Ford Focus RS WRC Ford Focus RS WRC Ford Focus RS WRC Ford Focus RS WRC Ford Fiesta RS WRC Ford Fiesta RS WRC VW Polo R WRC VW Polo R WRC VW Polo R WRC VW Polo R WRC Toyota Yaris WRC MCO R 12. R R R 2. SWE R R MEX R FRA ARG Inj R POR 8. R R ITA FIN R DEU R WAL CAT R AUS R Born October 15, 1987 in Kärla Parish, Saaremaa Debut: Portugal 2009 (20th with Subaru Impreza) Starts: 79 (60 with WRC cars: all with Ford) Wins: 2 (1 on gravel, 1 on tarmac) First win: Italy 2017 with Ford Fiesta WRC Last win: Germany 2017 with Ford Fiesta WRC Podiums: 11 SS wins: 80 Power Stage wins: 4 Points: OTT TÄNAK ESTONIA MARTIN JÄRVEOJA Born: August 18, 1987 in Tartu, Estonia Debut: Jordan 2010 (Monte Carlo 2017 with Tänak) Starts: 50 (13 with Tänak) Wins: 2 (all with Tänak) Best season: 3 rd, 2017 with Tänak 2009 Subaru Impreza STI NC 2010 Subaru/Mitsubishi NC (4. PWRC) 2011 Ford Fiesta S2000/WRC (2. SWRC) 2012 Ford Fiesta WRC Ford Fiesta R5/WRC (6. WRC2) 2015 Ford Fiesta RS WRC Ford Fiesta RS WRC Ford Fiesta WRC MCO SWE R R MEX FRA ARG POR 20. R 14. R 5. R 4. ITA FIN R R 7. DEU R WAL R 7. R CAT 27. R AUS R Born January 17, 1991 in Pieksämäki, S. Savonia Debut: Finland 2011 (32nd with Citroen C2 R2) Starts: 29 (8 with WRC cars: all with Toyota) Wins: 1 (on gravel) First win: Finland 2017 with Toyota Yaris WRC Podiums: 1 SS wins: 16 Power Stage wins: 3 Points: ERC Champion (Skoda Fabia S2000) 2016 WRC2 Champion (Skoda Fabia R5) 9 ESAPEKKA LAPPI FRANCE JANNE FERM Born: August 29, 1980 in Finland Debut: Finland 2011 with Lappi Starts: 21 (all with Lappi) Wins: 1 (with Lappi) Best season: 11 th, 2017 with Lappi 2011 Citroen C2 R NC (10. SWRC) 2012 Ford S2000/Citroen R NC (12. SWRC) 2013 Skoda Fabia S (16. WRC2) Skoda Fabia R (3 WRC2) 2016 Skoda Fabia R (1. WRC2) 2017 Toyota Yaris WRC MCO R 9. SWE 12. MEX FRA 14. ARG POR ITA FIN DEU R WAL CAT R R AUS 8. 6.

8 CITROEN TOTAL ABU DHABI WORLD RALLY TEAM Car: HQ: Team principal: Technical director: Citroen C3 WRC Versailles, France Pierre Budar Xavier Mestelan-Pinon wrc.com TEAMS STATISTICS Debut: Catalunya 2001 (8. Bugalski, ret. Puras with Citroen Xsara WRC) Rallies: 203 (with Citroen Xsara,Citroen C4, Citroen DS3, Citroen C3) Wins: 87 (70 Loeb, 6 Ogier, 5 Meeke, 2 Sainz, 1 Puras, Duval, Hirvonen, Sordo) First win: France 2001 with Puras (Citroen Xsara WRC) Last win: Catalunya 2017 with Kris Meeke (Citroen C3 WRC) SS wins: Podiums: 198 Drivers Champ.: 9 (from 2004 to 2012 all with Loeb) Constructors Champ.: 8 (2003, 2004, 2005 with Citroen Xsara, 2008, 2009, 2010 with Citroen C4, 2011, 2012 with Citroen DS3) 2017 Citroen had a terrible season in The car showed good speed, but it was difficult to handle, expecially on gravel. It was by far the worst team of the four. Meeke did a lot of errors and rolled the car many times during the season, but they were probably not only his mistakes. Winning in Mexico, the third event, wasnot enough. The team called Mikkelsen, but the norwegian felt uncomfortable with the car on gravel, and after a second place in Germany decided to leave the team for Hyundai For 2018 Citroen called back his world champion, Sebastien Loeb hoping he can help to solve all the issues with the car. But don t expect miracle. The car will be very fast on tarmac rounds, but inconsistant in the other. THE DRIVERS Meeke is the leading driver in the team. He has speed and he can deliver good results, but he has to show that he can finish rallies without mistakes. Go for all every time is not the right way to set up a title challenge. Breen did very well in 2017 with a difficult car, but that s not enough. He finished 5th 4 times and they were his best results of the season. We want to see him challenge for the podium if not wins. Loeb returns after three years, but it will be only for 3 rallies. Last time he competed full time was 2012 so don t expect to see the same Loeb who dominated between 2004 and 2012, but if he can get his mojo back he could set a new benchmark. This year he will contest two tarmac events where the C3 should be very competitive. Ostberg has another chance at Citroen. He had a difficult experience at Citroen between , then went back to Ford, with a partial independent program in He will return this year for Rally Sweden and we don t know if and when he will be back, for sure he doesn t have many opportunity to show himself. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS (from wrc.com) ENGINE TYPE Bore x Stroke Power (max) Torque (max) Transmission type Gearbox Differentials Clutch Suspension Steering Front Brakes Rear Brakes Wheels Length Width Wheelbase Weight IN-LINE FOUR CYLINDER, 1.6 LITRE, BO DIRECT INJECTION 84.0 mm / 72.0 mm 380 hp (280 kw) at 6,000 rpm 400 Nm at 4,500 rpm Four-wheel drive Six-speed sequential Mechanical front and rear self-locking Hydraulically-controlled central differential Cerametallic twin-disk MacPherson Power-assisted rack and pinion Ventilated disks, 370mm (tarmac) and 300mm (gravel) Water-cooled four-piston callipers (tarmac) Ventilated disks, 330mm (tarmac) and 300mm (gravel) Four-piston callipers 8 x 18 inch for tarmac, 7 x 15 inch for gravel & snow; Michelin tyres 4,128 mm 1,875 mm 2,540 mm 1,190 kg minimum / kg with crew

9 10 KRIS MEEKE UNITED KINGDOM PAUL NAGLE Born: 29 August 1978 in Killarney, Ireland Debut: Catalunya 2004 (Ireland 2007 with Meeke) Starts: 75 (53 with Meeke) Wins: 5 (all with Meeke) Best result: 5 th, 2015 with Meeke Born July 2, 1979 in Dungannon, N. Ireland 2002 Ford Puma S NC 2003 Opel Corsa S NC (14. JWRC) 2004 Opel S1.6/Citroen S NC (7. JWRC) 2005 Citroen C2/Subaru WRC NC (3. JWRC) 2006 Citroen C2 S NC (7. JWRC) 2007 Subaru Impreza WRC NC 2008 Renault Clio S1600/R NC (NC JWRC) Mini JCW WRC Citroen DS3 WRC NC 2014 Citroen DS3 WRC Citroen DS3 WRC Citroen DS3 WRC Citroen C3 WRC Debut: Wales GB 2002 (retired with Ford Puma S1600) Starts: 85 (55 with WRC cars: 2 with Subaru, 6 with Mini, 47 with Citroen) Wins: 5 (4 on gravel, 1 on tarmac) First win: Argentina 2015 with Citroen DS3 WRC Last win: Catalunya 2017 with Citroen C3 WRC Podiums: 11 SS wins: 70 Power Stage wins: 3 Points: IRC Champion (Peugeot 207 S2000) Debut: Portugal 2009 (25. with Ford Fiesta ST) Starts: 48 (19 with WRC cars: 2 with Ford, 17 with Citroen) Wins: 0 Best result: 3 rd, Finland 2016 with Citroen DS3 WRC Podiums: 1 SS wins: 4 Power Stage wins: 0 Points: WRC Academy Champion (Ford Fiesta R2) 2012 SWRC Champion (Ford Fiesta S2000) 11 CRAIG BREEN IRELAND SCOTT MARTIN Born: November 6, 1981 in Carlisle, England Debut: Wales 2004 (Sweden 2004 with Breen) Starts: 109 (26 with Breen) Wins: 0 (best: 3 rd, Finland 2006 with Breen) Best season: 7 th, 2009, 2010, 2011 with M. Wilson Born February 2, 1990 in Waterford 2009 Ford Fiesta ST/R NC 2010 Ford Fiesta S NC (12. SWRC) 2011 Ford Fiesta S2000/R NC(1. JWRC) 2012 Ford Fiesta S (1. SWRC) Ford Fiesta WRC Peugeot 208 R NC (9. WRC2) 2016 Citroen DS3 WRC Citroen DS3/C3 WRC SÉBASTIEN LOEB FRANCE DANIEL ELENA Born: October 26, 1972 in Monaco Debut: Catalunya 1999 with Loeb Starts: 169 (all with Loeb) Wins: 78 (all with Loeb) Titles: 9 (all with Loeb) Born February 26, 1974 in Haguenau, Bas-Rhin 1999 Citroen Saxo Kit Car NC 2000 Citroen/Toyota WRC NC 2001 Citroen Saxo/Xsara WRC Citroen Xsara WRC Citroen Xsara WRC Citroen Xsara WRC Citroen Xsara WRC Citroen Xsara WRC Citroen C4 WRC Citroen C4 WRC Citroen C4 WRC Citroen C4 WRC Citroen DS3 WRC Citroen DS3 WRC Citroen DS3 WRC Citroen DS3 WRC Debut: Spain 1999 (ret. with Citroen Saxo Kit Car) Starts: 169 (157 with WRC cars: 2 with Toyota, 155 with Citroen) Wins: 78 (44 on gravel, 32 on tarmac, 2 on snow) Podiums: 116 SS wins: 909 Power Stage wins: 0 Points: Titles: 9 (from 2004 to 2012) 2001 JWRC Champion (Citroen Saxo S1600) Born October 11, 1987 In Våler, Østfold Debut: Sweden 2006 (31 st with Subaru Impreza WRC) Starts: 111 (109 with WRC cars: 27 with Subaru, 57 with Ford, 25 with Citroen) Wins: 1 First win: Portugal 2012 with Ford Fiesta RS WRC Podiums: 16 SS wins: 59 Power Stage wins: 1 Points: MADS ØSTBERG FINLAND 2006 Subaru Impreza WRC NC 2007 Subaru Impreza WRC Subaru Impreza WRC NC 2009 Subaru Impreza WRC Subaru WRC/Ford S Ford Fiesta RS WRC Ford Fiesta RS WRC Ford Fiesta RS WRC Citroen DS3 WRC Citroen DS3 WRC Ford Fiesta RS WRC Ford Fiesta WRC TORSTEIN ERIKSEN Born: April 29, 1990 in Norway Debut: Finland 2001 (Finland 2017 with Østberg) Starts: 6 (2 with Østberg) Wins: - (best: 5 th, Catalunya 2017 with Østberg) Best result: 17 th, 2017 with Østberg MCO R R R R SWE MEX R FRA R R ARG R R POR R ITA R R R FIN R R DEU 24. R R 12. R WAL CAT R R 1. AUS R MCO SWE MEX FRA ARG R R POR 25. R 5. ITA 25. FIN R R R DEU WAL R 15. CAT R 10. AUS R MCO SWE 2. R MEX FRA R 1. R ARG POR R ITA R R FIN DEU WAL R 2. CAT AUS MCO SWE MEX FRA ARG R POR R ITA R R 7. FIN 8. R R R DEU 16. R WD WAL 11. R R CAT AUS WD 6.

10 Wins (Drivers) Wins (Manufacturers) Stage Wins Podiums Rally starts 78 Loeb 98 Citoen 906 Loeb 116 Loeb 196 Sainz 40 Ogier 87 Ford 821 Alén 97 Sainz 188 P. Solberg 30 Grönholm 73 Lancia 756 Sainz 75 Kankkunen 182 Latvala 26 Sainz 48 Peugeot 700 Kankkunen 69 Hirvonen 169 Loeb 25 C. McRae 47 Subaru 654 Mikkula 65 Ogier 163 Hirvonen 24 Mäkinen 44 Volkswagen 554 Auriol 61 Grönholm 162 Kankkunen 23 Kankkunen Toyota 542 Vatanen 60 Latvala 152 Auriol 20 Auriol 34 Mitsubishi Grönholm 56 Alén Grönholm 19 Alén 24 Audi 501 Ogier 53 Auriol Sordo 18 Mikkula 21 FIAT 493 Latvala 52 P. Solberg 146 C. McRae 17 Biasion 9 Datsun/Nissan 486 Blomqvist 45 Märtin 139 Mäkinen Latvala 7 Hyundai 477 C. McRae 44 Mikkola 138 Eriksson 16 Waldegård 6 Alpine-Renault 457 P. Solberg 42 C. McRae 129 Alén 15 Hirvonen Opel 439 Röhrl Sordo 127 Stohl 14 Röhrl Renault 373 Biasion 40 Biasion 125 H. Solberg 13 P. Solberg 4 Saab 362 Mäkinen 35 Waldegård 123 Mikkola 11 Salonen 3 Mazda 290 Waldegård 34 Burns Ogier Blomqvist 2 Porsche 277 Burns 33 Blomqvist 122 Blomqvist 10 Vatanen Mercedes Benz 260 Hirvonen 31 Röhrl 119 Schwarz Burns Talbot 257 Salonen 27 Vatanen 118 Prokop BMW Neuville 112 Gardemeister Colin McRae Juha Kankkunen Didier Auriol Markku Alén Win streaks (drivers) Win streaks (drivers) 6 Loeb Citroen Xsara Loeb Citroen Xsara Loeb Citroen C4 2008/09 10 Loeb Citroen Xsara Loeb Citroen Xsara Loeb Citroen Xsara Loeb Citroen C Ogier VW Polo Loeb Citroen DS Loeb Citroen Xsara Salonen Peugeot Loeb Citroen Xsara Hirvonen Ford Focus 2009 Loeb Citroen Xsara Ogier VW Polo 2013 Ogier VW Polo Ogier VW Polo 2016 Ogier VW Polo Tommy Mäkinen in his Mitsubishi Lancer Win streaks (cars) 12 Volkswagen Polo R WRC 2013/14 Volkswagen Polo R WRC 2015/16 8 Citroen DS3 WRC Volkswagen Polo R WRC 2014/15 6 Lancia Delta HF 4WD 1987/88 Mitsubishi Lancer 1998/99 Citroen Xsara WRC 2005 Citroen C4 WRC 2008/09 Wins per nationality 185 France 7 Estonia 178 Finland Belgium 43 Sweden 2 Austria 42 UK Japan 30 Italy 1 Argentina 28 Spain Canada 17 Germany Portugal Norway New Zealand 8 Kenya Win streaks (cars) 12 Volkswagen Polo R WRC Volkswagen Polo R WRC Citroen Xsara WRC Citroen C4 WRC Lancia Delta HF 4WD Citroen C4 WRC Citroen DS3 WRC Citroen DS3 WRC Volkswagen Polo R WRC Timo Salonen in his Peugeot 205 T16 Other statistics: Win ratio: 46,15 % (Loeb) Fastest rally: Finland 2016 (126,62 km/h, Meeke) Most DNF s: 61 (Mikkola) Closest win: 0,2 sec (Jordan 2011 between Ogier and Podium streak (drivers): 15 (Loeb, 2008/09) Latvala) Podium streak (cars): 38 (Citroen, 2008/09/10) Youngest winner: Latvala, d (Sweden 2008) Point finish streak: 28 (Loeb, 2009/10/11) Oldest winner: Waldegard, 46y 155d (Safari 1990) Most entries: 305 (Monte Carlo 1982) Multiple wins (cars): top 5 (Lancia, Portugal 1990) Fewest entries: 20 (Brazil 1981) Triple wins (cars): 10 (Lancia) Longest rally: New Zealand 1977 ( km) Double wins (cars): 29 (Citroen) Shortest rally: USA 1974 (244 km) Multiple wins (nationality): top 10 (France) Wins in the same Rally (drivers): 9 (Loeb, Rally Deutschland) Triple wins (nationality): 43 (Finland) Wins in the same Rally (cars): 13 (Ford, Acropolis) Double wins (nationality): 43 (Finland) Different rallies won: 23 (Loeb) Bacchelli wins 1977 Rally New Zealand in a Fiat 131 Abarth: the longest rally in the history of WRC Lancia dominates 1990 Rally Portugal with five Deltas in the top 5. Latvala wins Rally Sweden in 2008 becoming the youngest ever driver to win a WRC round. Ogier wins 2011 Rally Jordan by 0,3 second over Latvala. The smallest winning margin in WRC.