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Lefebvre "100 per cent ready" for Wales comeback

Ten weeks after his shocking crash at ADAC Rallye Deutschland, Sébastien Lefebvre insists he is ready to drive at 100 per cent again when he makes his WRC comeback this week at the Dayinsure Wales Rally GB (27 - 30 october).

The Frenchman and his co-driver Gabin Moreau were hospitalised in August after their Citroën DS 3 world rally car clattered into into a row of concrete posts and hit a tree in Germany's Panzerplatte military road complex.

Moreau was the more seriously hurt, and underwent surgery for injuries including a broken left foot and right tibia, while Lefebvre was able to leave hospital in early September.

Lefebvre did not take part in the Che Guevara Energy Drink Tour de Corse while he recuperated, but he was back at the wheel in Spain to complete the pre-event recce.

Now, three weeks after he was confirmed as one of Citroen's 2017 WRC drivers, he feels well enough to get back up to full speed alongside stand-in co-driver Gilles de Turckheim.

"Two months after Rallye Deutschland, I'm happy to be back behind the wheel of a WRC. It's an important weekend, both in terms of finding my speed again and acquiring experience for 2017," said Lefebvre.

"I feel ready to drive at 100%, on a rally that I really like. My last two outings here were in four-wheel drive cars and I was quick despite the difficult conditions. I remember driving on my first gravel stage, at night and in the rain... and I enjoyed it!
"You have to ‘read' the grip changes to stay on the limit without overstepping it. It's a little bit like the kind of conditions you get in the north of France, but on gravel. I hope I can have a consistent race, with a steady gap to the leaders."

Lefebvre and de Turckheim will be part of a four-car Citroën squad for Wales, which will be the French manufacturer's final event this season before a full time return in 2017.

Also competing are Lefebvre's 2017 team-mates Kris Meeke and Craig Breen, while Quentin Gilbert and co-driver Renaud Jamoul will make their debut in the sport's top category after spending the season competing in WRC 2.

Zdroj: wrc.com