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Lefebvre targets asphalt mileage

Citroën Racing's Stéphane Lefebvre will return to one of his favourite childhood rallies this weekend as he uses France's Rallye le Béthunois to continue his preparations for Rally RACC Catalunya - Rally de España (5-8 october).

C outing coming on the Orlen 74th Rally Poland gravel stages at the beginning of July, Lefebvre is keen to get some competitive mileage before the WRC battle resumes on Spain's mixed asphalt and gravel stages next month.

He will drive a PH Sport-prepared DS 3 WRC at Rallye Le Béthunois, an event that will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2017 and forms part of France's Rally Cup series.

"When I saw that my schedule allowed me to take part in this event, I made every effort to realise this opportunity to ride with a WRC in front of my public," Lefebvre said. "Béthune is less than 10km from my hometown of Noeux-les-Mines and it is a rally on which I accompanied my parents from a very young age.

"Not everyone can go to a World Championship round so my participation in this event is dedicated to all those who have helped and encouraged me since the beginning of my career."

The Rallye Le Béthunois route will consist of 12 asphalt stages and 137 competitive kilometres. Although he's the top seed on the 160-strong entry list, Lefebvre is expecting a tough challenge.

"These are roads typical of the North of France and similar to what can be found in Belgium," he explained. "The profile of the stages is very fast, with many changes of direction and other more technical sections. The different types of asphalt change the grip level, especially if it rains."

Lefebvre will take the wheel of a 2017-spec C3 at RallyRACC Catalunya - Rally de España next month. The event will be his seventh WRC outing of the season and he'll be hoping to better the fifth-place finish he recorded last time out in Poland.

Zdroj: wrc.com