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Promising young rally drivers test the DS3 WRC!

Citroën Racing took advantage of an operation dedicated to presenting its line-up to more than a hundred journalists from all around the world to invite along some promising young drivers from world rallying to try out the DS3 WRC.

Sébastien Chardonnet, Stéphane Lefebvre, Martin Koci and Laurent Laskowski had the privilege of putting the car usually driven by Kris Meeke and Mads Østberg through its paces on a gravel stage.

Sébastien Chardonnet, Stéphane Lefebvre, Martin Koci and Laurent Laskowski spent three days showing the assembled journalists the qualities of the cars designed by Citroën Racing. From the DS3 R1 to the DS3 R5, and including the DS3 R3-MAX, the full line-up was on show at the Issoire racetracks (Auvergne).

Like the journalists attending the event, these young drivers were able to get into the DS3 WRC, alongside Mads Østberg and Kris Meeke... Yves Matton, Citroën Racing Team Principal, also invited them to take a spin in the two-time World Championship-winning car.

After winning the WRC3 championship and the Citroën Top Driver series last season, Sébastien Chardonnet is this year competing in the WRC2 in a Citroën DS3 R5. Although he had taken part in the 2012 Rallye de France in a DS3 WRC, this test run on gravel nonetheless served up plenty of new experiences.

"I can't help but compare how it feels to drive this car with how it feels to drive the DS3 R5," commented Sébastien. "The power is incredible! It's really great to have had the chance to drive the DS3 WRC again. It's a very accomplished car. Even on the really slippery surface of the roads on our test base, I very quickly found my bearings. I think you can get comfortable behind the wheel very quickly. I'd like to say a big thank you to the team and to Yves Matton for having given me this opportunity."

Current leader of the FIA Junior WRC with three wins in four rallies, Stéphane Lefebvre was able to cover several hundred kilometres in the DS3 R5 before testing the DS3 WRC: "These tests are always too short! I felt on the pace straight away. Although I don't know my times and there's no point comparing them with the other drivers, I can say that I had a really good feeling in the car. It has been a fantastic experience. Now I just have to do everything I can to make it happen again!"

Second in the FIA Junior WRC ahead of the final two events of the season, Martin Koci had travelled from Slovakia to take part in the Citroën Racing Experience. He had the chance to try out the DS3 R5 on tarmac and gravel before hopping inside the DS3 WRC: "It's the best car in the world! Everything works perfectly: the engine, the transmission, the chassis and suspension... I have never had the opportunity to drive such a fast car. I felt at home very quickly in the cockpit of the DS3 WRC."

Winner of the FFSA's "Rallye Jeunes" (Young Rally Drivers) initiative in 2012, Laurent Laskowski produced some fine performances last season in a DS3 R1 and a DS3 R3 in the promotional formulas organised Citroën Racing. After a session in a DS3 R5, he too had the chance to drive the DS3 WRC during the tests: "It was an incredible experience. I didn't want it to end. This car's acceleration, grip, brakes, damper systems, and so on are incredibly efficient. Everything is perfect!"

The man behind these test sessions, Yves Matton had the same broad smile as the talented youngsters from the Citroën Racing driver development programme: "First of all, sitting alongside two of the best drivers in the WRC gave them the chance to assess how far they still have to go. And the experience that they had when they drove the DS3 WRC on gravel is undoubtedly just the first step of the journey. They all still need to improve their own level to meet new targets. We are well aware that their goal is to secure a WRC drive in the near future... And we make no secret of the fact we would love to find the future stars of the World Rally Championship, as Citroën Racing has done in the past with other drivers who went before them."