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Lefebvre victorious in pre-Corsica test

Stéphane Lefebvre prepared for Citroën's C3 R5 competition debut at the next round of the WRC with a ‘dream' victory on the French championship Rallye du Touquet.

Lefebvre, who will drive the C3 in the World Rally Championship at Corsica linea - Tour de Corse [5 - 8 April], practised for the asphalt rally by taking on the roads of Le Touquet at the weekend.

Competing in a PH Sport-prepared Citroën DS 3 WRC, the Frenchman - along with co-driver Gabin Moreau - dominated the rally. Clocking the fastest time on the first stage, Lefebvre quickly extended his advantage with eight wins in as many stages and took victory at a canter.

Bryan Bouffier - who will tackle Corsica with the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team - finished second in a Hyundai i20 R5 and Yoann Bonato, who will also drive a C3 R5 in Corsica, rounded out the podium.

"It was important to impose myself at Le Touquet, it was one of the rallies that made me dream when I was younger and I dreamed of winning here one day," said Lefebvre, who grew up 60km away in Noeux-les-Mines.

"One of the objectives for this weekend was to find the rhythm again after four months without a rally, that's why I wanted to attack from start to finish.

"We have been working on this car for over a year and I am looking forward to starting the Tour de Corse."

While victory has put Lefebvre in the right frame of mind to give the C3 a successful WRC 2 debut at the Tour de Corse, he'll be facing strong competition from a 12 car class at the French round of the WRC made up of more established machines including the Skoda Fabia, Ford Fiesta and Hyundai i20.

Zdroj: wrc.com