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Quentin Gilbert, an example for the FIA Junior WRC competitors

Last year's winner of the FIA Junior WRC, Quentin Gilbert has a six-race WRC2 programme this season. In Portugal, the Frenchman will therefore be competing in a DS 3 R5 whilst eleven crews begin their attempt to succeed him as champion!

Winner of five races in 2015 - including Rally de Portugal - Quentin Gilbert dominated the FIA Junior WRC. He therefore secured the prize awarded to the champion, a six-rally WRC2 programme in a DS 3 R5. Operation of the car has been entrusted to DG Sport, which grabbed the Teams title thanks to the performances of their driver.

With the support of their partners, Quentin Gilbert and his co-driver Renaud Jamoul took part in the opening event of the season at Rallye Monte-Carlo. Third after an error-free race, they secured an important result, since drivers can only score points at seven events.

In Portugal, Quentin Gilbert will be driving a Citroën Racing, Total and Michelin-backed DS 3 R5. His programme will then continue in Sardinia, Poland, Finland, Germany and Corsica. His car will be fitted with the 2016 Evolution kit, composed of a new front end (radiator, heat exchanger, air box, upper crossmember and lower protection), improved power-assisted steering and an upgraded on-board system. The shock absorbers also come with new settings.

With twenty-six crews competing in Portugal in the WRC2 category, Quentin Gilbert knows that he will be up against stiff opposition. However, nothing has been left to chance in preparing for this rally: "As it's almost four months since Monte-Carlo, we have had time to think about this event. What with physical training, reviewing on-board camera footage from 2015 and the various technical meetings with DG Sport, I think we have worked very well. We have just put the 2016-spec car through its paces on a test session in the south of France, and I'll be doing another test session before the start of recce."

"That will ensure we start the rally at a strong pace, without any preliminaries. I know that I have a very good car, and I'm really enjoying driving it," continued the reigning FIA Junior WRC champion. "I think that I'm one of the top six or seven drivers, but I'm not setting myself any definite goals in terms of the final result. Although the roads in northern Portugal are smoother than in the Algarve, we will still have difficult conditions given that we'll be completing the stages after the WRCs. We'll therefore have to look after the powertrain and the tyres, and that includes Sunday, which will be a completely separate leg."

Whilst focussing on his race, Quentin will nonetheless be following the results of the FIA Junior WRC with interest: "There is a good line-up, with some experienced drivers who were already very competitive last year, such as Veiby, Folb and Tempestini. And I also think Koci will be very strong on his return to the category. And then there's Crugnola, who is a driver with a lot of experience... I'm also pleased to see that there is quite a strong French contingent. It would appear that Stéphane Lefebvre's title in 2014, followed by my win last year, has made our fellow countrymen want to keep the run going!"

The 2015 Rally de Portugal saw come very difficult road conditions. Heavy rainfall just before the event meant that the loose ground quickly deteriorated as more cars completed the stages. Despite having to rejoin under Rally2 rules after they went off, Ole Christian Veiby and Simone Tempestini had finished in fifth and sixth places. Meanwhile, Terry Folb had finished outside of the points.