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The Citroën DS3 R3s show their speed

Whether it's a question of experienced drivers or young coming men in European rallying, the drivers in the Citroën Racing Trophy are making a name for themselves all over the 'old' continent.  In France, Cédric Robert continues to rack up victories in Group R in the French Tarmac Championship, while young Dutchman, Kevin Abbring is blazing a trail on gravel. Young drivers also lead in Switzerland with Mickaël Burri and Belgium with Raphaël Auquier. Among future stars in the sport, Brit Martin McCormack, Czech Jan Cerny and Simon Campedelli from Italy are all confirming their potential by making the most of the speed and reliability of the DS3 R3 on every kind of surface. Whether at the wheel of the DS3 R3 or the C2-R2 MAX, the rest of the season promises no-holds-barred battles in all the Citroën Racing Trophies, in which the potential title contenders have already laid down a marker.

FRENCH CHAMPIONSHIPS

Robert and Abbring dominate in France

The early part of the season in France has seen sensational performances by two drivers: Cédric Robert on tarmac and  Kevin Abbring on gravel, who have left their mark on the opening rounds of the  Citroën Racing Trophies. Between them they have racked up six out of seven possible victories in the R3 class proving the competitiveness of the DS3 R3s.  

CEDRIC ROBERT

"At Le Touquet, in Lyon and then in the Ronde Limousine, the DS3 R3 was incredibly efficient on three different terrains. It's reliable and quick on all kinds of asphalt.  We've scored two victories in three rallies plus a podium finish in the R3 class as well as a couple of seventh places in the overall classification. We're currently lying third in the French Rally Championship and first in the 2-wheel category.  The whole engineering team's done a fantastic job and we're improving rally after rally. The battle in the Citroën Racing Trophy is particularly intense. I get a real kick out of driving the DS3 R3. It's got the performance as proved by its results. It's looking good for the rest of the season. I can'wait for Rouergue."

KEVIN ABBRING

"I feel really good behind the wheel of the DS3 R3. The sequential gearbox gives me the feeling that I'm in a WRC. When you add the pleasure of driving to the efficiency of the suspension, the result's simply fantastic.  I've never driven a car that works so well on every level, even in the Junior WRC or the Dutch Championship. The ambiance in the Citroën Racing Trophy and the French Championship is really great.  Limited reconnaissance is a good thing. I'm Dutch, my co-driver Lara is Belgian and we're racing in France so my programme teaches me many things. The DS3 R3 suits me down to the ground and as we're leading the Citroën Racing Trophy, everything's perfect!"

FRENCH CUP

Different rounds - different winners!  

The last three rounds produced three different winners. Marc Amourette won the Dieppe Rally in his DS3 R3, Stéphane Ciaramitaro did the same in the Sainte Baume while Julian Carret triumphed in Les Vins Mâcon. In the same rallies, there were also three different winners in the Citroën Racing Trophy in C2-R2 MAX, Raphael Sébire, Thierry Troiano and Antonin Mougin as well as Yvan Delmas in the Rallye de Lozère.

UNITED KINGDOM - PIRELLI AND JIM CLARK

Martin McCormack makes people sit up and take notice

Martin McCormack from Northern Ireland in his DS3 R3 won the 2-wheel drive category in the Pirelli and Jim Clark Rallies. These victories gave him the lead in the British 2-Wheel Drive Chamionship.  Desi Henry in his C2-R2 MAX came first in the Citroën Racing Trophy round in the Pirelli Rally.

IRELAND

Sheahan wins

After Kieran Daly, winner of the West Cork Rally, Mark Sheahan emerged victorious in the second round in the Killarney Rally. Scott McElhinney and Joe Schrimpton, who have been consistent so far this season, currently lead the Irish Citroën Racing Trophy.

ITALY

Campedelli fulfils his contract

Backed by Citroën Italy, Simone Campedelli won the 2-wheel drive category and Group R as well as taking fifth place overall in the Rallye Costa Smeralda on his debut in the Citroën DS3 R3. He repeated his performance on the Sicilian stages coming first of the DS3 R3s.

HUNGARY

Krózser on top in Hungary

In Hungary, where Menyhért Krózser is backed by the local Citroën dealership, he came second in his DS3 R3 in the 2-wheel drive category in the Miskolc Rally. He consolidated his performance in the Bukfurdo Rally in which he won Class 5 of the Championship (R3) again, taking the lead in the 2-wheel drive category.

CZECH REPUBLIC

Černý gives the DS3 R3 its maiden victory

Jan Černý won his class in the Lužické Hory Rally on his first appearance at the wheel of a DS3 R3. Martin Koči finished second in class 6 in the event in a C2-R2 MAX. He then raced in the Krumlov Rally where he scored another second place behind Miroslac Březík, but in front of Marcel Svačina.

ROUMANIE

Cosma vs. Bereczki

Norbert Bereczki stamped his authority on the Citroën Racing Trophy in Rumania by winning the first two rounds in the Brasov and Tirgu Mures rallies. Vlad Cosma fought back in the Cluj Rally in which he scored his maiden win at the wheel of his Citroën C2-R2 Max, as well as coming first in the 2-wheel drive category.

AUSTRIA

Victoiry for Wollinger

In Austria, Daniel Wollinger showed just how competitive his Citroën DS3 R3 is by winning the 2-wheel drive category and the R3 class in the Bosch Rally, the benchmark event in the national championship. The young Austrian won first time out in his DS3 R3 moving up to eighth place in the overall classification.

BELUX - WALLONIE AND SEZOENS

Auquier, Baugnet and Foxius lead before Ypres

Cédric de Cecco had his first taste of the DS3 R3 in the Wallonian Rally, the opening round of the Citroën Racing Trophy, which he won after making significant progress throughout the weekend.  It was newcomer Raphaël Auquier's turn to triumph the hotly-disputed Citroën Racing Trophy the following month in the Sezoens Rally on stages that were partially run on gravel.

"What a great car! It brakes very well, the engine's got a lot of grunt and it handles like dream. I'll be back in it as soon as possible - you can bet on that," said Auquier at the finish.  

In the C2-R2 MAX category, Xavier Baugnet won in Namur after a tough race. Ronny Foxius from Luxembourg emulated him in Bocholt.

SWITZERLAND - JURASSIEN AND CHABLAIS

Mickaël Burri dominates in Switzerland

In his DS3 R3, Mickael Burri dominated his rivals in the first two rounds of the Swiss Citroën Racing Trophy, the Critérium Jurassien and the Rallye du Chablais. In C2-R2 MAX, Hervé Taverney leads the Trophy after finishing second behind Joel Rappaz in the Jura following which he won the Chablais event. Aurélien Devanthery is in second place.