Dani Sordo returns to Citroën Racing

Dani Sordo ended the 2011 WRC season with great hope. The MINI Countryman JCW WRC had shown massive potential, including two podium finishes in a reduced program. That hope continued with a second place in the 2012 season opener at Monte Carlo. And then BMW dropped a bombshell, withdrawing its factory support from Prodrive, and ultimately leaving the WRC altogether. That meant 2012, a year which promised so much, ended up delivering little more than misery for the likable Sordo.

We’re pleased to report things are now looking up for the 29-year-old Spaniard thanks to a new deal which will see him back at Citroën Racing, where he plied his trade from 2005–10.

With WRC legend Sebastian Loeb taking a backward seat in 2013, Sordo will fill the void alongside new team leader Mikko Hirvonen.

Yves Matton, Citroën Racing Team Principal explains: “We took our time in assessing the potential of the drivers available to line up alongside Mikko Hirvonen next season.

“Dani is very well liked in the team and it’s a pleasure for everyone to see him return to the ‘family’. His profile complements Mikko’s in many aspects and it was important for Citroën to have a Latin driver for the Southern Europe and Latin American markets.”

Of course, Sordo is just happy to have some certainty back in his day job: “Obviously, I’m very pleased to rejoin a team with which I share so many good memories. This was my no.1 choice for 2013.

“The last few years have been good for me. In another team, I got to grips with different working methods and I took on more responsibility in the car development process. I see this return to Citroën as a great opportunity. I am still looking for my first win in WRC and I am determined to secure it next season!”

[Source: Citroën Racing]

Dani Sordo rejoins Citroën Racing

15 November 2012

Having driven for the Brand between 2005 and 2010, Dani Sordo has spent the majority of his WRC career with Citroën Racing. Alongside co-driver Carlos del Barrio, the 29 year-old Spaniard is set to rejoin the Citroën Total World Rally Team to compete in the 2013 World Rally Championship.

Dani Sordo has driven a Citroën in 80 of his 98 WRC rallies. Back in 2005, Yves Matton, the then Customer Racing Manager, entrusted a C2 Super 1600 to the Cantabria-born driver to take part in the J-WRC (Junior World Championship). After winning the title in his first season, Dani moved up a level by switching to the Xsara WRC for 2006.

With four podium finishes in his first season at the sport’s highest level, Dani earned his place in the Citroën Total World Rally Team when the works team returned to the World Championship with the C4 WRC. The next four years saw him rack up an impressive collection of 25 podium finishes, making a significant contribution to the team securing four Manufacturers’ World Championship titles.

2013 will therefore see the Spanish driver return to the team in which he grew up. “We took our time in assessing the potential of the drivers available to line up alongside Mikko Hirvonen next season. Obviously, Dani was very high on our shortlist and his performances at the Rally de Espana proved that he can still perform at the very highest level,” explained Yves Matton, Citroën Racing Team Principal. “Dani is very well liked in the team and it’s a pleasure for everyone to see him return to the ‘family’. His profile complements Mikko’s in many aspects and it was important for Citroën to have a Latin driver for the Southern Europe and Latin American markets.”

“Obviously, I’m very pleased to rejoin a team with which I share so many good memories. This was my no.1 choice for 2013,” asserted Dani. “The last few years have been good for me. In another team, I got to grips with different working methods and I took on more responsibility in the car development process. I see this return to Citroën as a great opportunity. I am still looking for my first win in WRC and I am determined to secure it next season! I can’t wait to see the people I know again and get back behind the wheel of the DS3 WRC, in which I did some testing at the end of 2010.”

DANI SORDO

• Born on May 2,1983 in Torrelavega (Cantabria, Spain)
  
• First WRC rally: Spain 2003
  
• WRC rallies: 98
  
• Podium finishes: 32

2005 : Junior World Rally Champion (Citroën C2 Super 1600) – 4 wins
2006 : 5th in the World Rally Championship (Citroën Xsara WRC) – 4 podium finishes
2007 : 4th in the World Rally Championship (Citroën C4 WRC) – 7 podium finishes
2008 : 3rd in the World Rally Championship (Citroën C4 WRC) – 6 podium finishes
2009 : 3rd in the World Rally Championship (Citroën C4 WRC) – 7 podium finishes
2010 : 5th in the World Rally Championship (Citroën C4 WRC) – 5 podium finishes
2011 : 8th in the World Rally Championship (Mini JCW WRC) – 2 podium finishes
2012 : 11th in the World Rally Championship (Mini JCW & Ford Fiesta RS WRC) – 1 podium finish