Autosportfoto

Quentin Gilbert can pull clear!

Nine crews line up at the start of Rally Poland in the FIA Junior WRC category.

- After finishing on the top step of the podium at the opening two rounds, the Frenchman Quentin Gilbert is already the man to beat for all the under-28 year-old drivers competing in DS 3 R3-MAXs.

- The winner of the FIA Junior WRC will earn a WRC2 programme next season in a DS 3 R5.

Citroën Racing and the FIA have been working together since the start of 2014 to identify talented young drivers. Of the eighteen under-28 year-old drivers registered for the championship this season, nine are expected to take part in Rally Poland, the third event on the FIA Junior WRC calendar.

All of them will be driving strictly identical DS 3 R3-MAXs and therefore have the same chance to shine on the stages of the World Rally Championship. In 2016, the winner will be able to move up a level and compete in a four-wheel drive DS 3 R5.

Like in Monte-Carlo and Portugal, the crews are set to experience new roads in Poland. The itinerary has been very significantly changed in comparison with the 2014 edition, leaving less than forty kilometres in common with last year's rally.

Category winner in Monte-Carlo and Portugal, Quentin Gilbert has made the perfect start to the season. The Frenchman, certain to remain the championship leader after Poland regardless of the outcome, could take a major step towards the title in July if he were to win again.

Second in the championship standings, the Norwegian Ole-Christian Veiby has opted to miss this round. Each driver can only score points at six of the seven events on the calendar.

This round therefore offers Simone Tempestini a great opportunity. The Italian, who lives in Romania, was the best performer in Portugal and lies third in the championship. Competitive since Monte-Carlo, he is aiming to convert his speed into a strong result on the Polish gravel.

Just behind, Pierre-Louis Loubet, Henri Haapamaki and Jean-René Perry will be determined to reproduce the performance level they enjoyed at Rally de Portugal. For Haapamaki, it will also be an opportunity to prepare for the upcoming Rally Finland, his home event.

Along with Simone Tempestini, Federico Della Casa is the only driver to have taken part in last year's Rally Poland in the FIA Junior WRC. The Swiss driver finished in the top 10. His recent performance on the very demanding Portuguese roads - where he finished seventh overall - augurs well for this, the third event of the season.

For the Emirati Mohammed Al Mutawaa, the Briton Osian Pryce and the Frenchman Matthieu Margaillan, who all failed to score points after retiring in Portugal, Rally Poland provides them with a chance to open their account.

QUOTE, UNQUOTE

Simone Tempestini: "This will be my third appearance at Rally Poland. I really like the style of the roads on this event. The stages are very quick and the surface is fairly smooth. There are always a lot of fans and a great atmosphere. We are going to prepare for this event by taking part in a round of the Romanian Rally Championship in the DS 3 R3-MAX. It will be a good opportunity to work on the set-up. I have felt very comfortable in the car since the start of the year and my co-driver has done an excellent job, but our results have been a bit disappointing. We have shown we can be competitive with some stage wins at the first two races. In spite of that, a puncture in Monte-Carlo and a mechanical problem in Portugal prevented us from scoring heavily. I'll be aiming to win in Poland. I know it won't be easy, but that's my goal!"

Jean-René Perry: "The FIA Junior WRC is the feeder category to the WRC, a real springboard to the top level. I'm really pleased to get my first experience of the World Championship in these conditions. As we are all driving the same car, it feels a bit like a promotional formula. The programme is also interesting for my partners. For us, Portugal was our first experience in this environment and I feel like I learned a lot of things. Fourth place was a good result. Obviously, I always want to win, but you have to realistic. We have less experience than most of our rivals. You have to make progress cleverly in order to keep learning. Another top five finish in Poland would be an excellent result. The road surface will be very different. We'll have to find the right set-up quickly; if we do that, the rest will follow. This season is about getting to grips with everything. I'm also thinking about next year. In 2016, we'll have to use the experience that we're accumulating now to get among the frontrunners."

THE NINE CREWS ENTERED

52 - Simone Tempestini (ITA) / Matteo Chiarcossi (ROU)
Date of birth: 12 August 1994
Team: Napoca Rally Team / Keane Motorsport
2015 results: Monte-Carlo, 4th, Portugal, 6th.

55 - Mohammed Al Mutawaa (ARE) / Stephen McAuley (GBR)
Date of birth: 2 December 1992
Team: Abu Dhabi Racing
2015 results: Portugal, retired.

60 - Quentin Gilbert (FRA) / Renaud Jamoul (BEL)
Date of birth: 29 May 1989
Team: DG Sport
2015 results: Monte-Carlo, 1st, Portugal, 1st.

62 - Henri Haapamäki (FIN) / Marko Salminen (FIN)
Date of birth: 6 January 1989
Team: Hannu's Rally Team
2015 results: Portugal, 3rd.

63 - Federico Della Casa (CHE) / Domenico Pozzi (ITA)
Date of birth: 11 July 1991
Team: Delta Rally
2015 results: Portugal, 7th.

64 - Osian Pryce (GBR) / Dale Furniss (GBR)
Date of birth: 24 February 1993
Team: Autosport Technology
2015 results: Portugal, retired.

65 - Pierre-Louis Loubet (FRA) / Victor Belloto (FRA)
Date of birth: 18 February 1997
Team: PH Sport
2015 results: Portugal, 2nd.

66 - Jean-René Perry (FRA) / Joshua Reibel (FRA)
Date of birth: 25 December 1992
Team: MY Racing / Allsports Management
2015 results: Portugal, 4th.

68 - Matthieu Margaillan (FRA) / Mathilde Margaillan (FRA)
Date of birth: 14 October 1986
Team: AFC Racing
2015 results: Portugal, retired.

FIA JUNIOR WRC STANDINGS

1. Quentin Gilbert 50 points
2. Ole Christian Veiby 25 points
3. Simone Tempestini 20 points
4. Christian Riedemann and Pierre-Louis Loubet 18 points
6. Henri Haapamaki 15 points
7. Jean-René Perry 12 points
8. Yohan Rossel 10 points
9. Alessandro Re and Kornel Lukacs 8 points
11. Federico Della Casa 6 points
12. Charlotte Dalmasso 5 points
13. Daniel McKenna 4 points

NATIONS TROPHY

1. France 50 points
2. Norway 30 points
3. Italy 24 points
4. Germany and Finland 18 points
6. Hungary 14 points
7. Switzerland 10 points
8. Ireland 8 points

2015 CALENDAR

22-25 January Rallye Monte-Carlo
21-24 May Rally de Portugal
2-7 July Rally Poland
30 July - 2 August Rally Finland
1-4 October Rallye de France
22-25 October Rally de España
12-15 November Wales GB Rally