Citroën confirms all-Sebastien WRC line up for 2011

In other WRC news there will be change at Citroën Racing for the 2011 season, but it won’t be in their driver line up. Both Sebastien Loeb and Sebastien Ogier have been re-signed for next year. However, changes in WRC specifications will dictate the arrival of a new rally weapon from the dominant French team.

Out goes the highly successful C4 WRC and in comes the new rally-prepped DS3 WRC. The new car will maintain all-wheel drive, but will be fitted with a 1.6 litre turbocharged four cylinder motor, down from the current 2.0 litre capacity.

Despite conquering every mountain the WRC series has posed Loeb is as motivated as ever, “Of course, it’s no secret that we’re already working flat out on the new Citroën DS3, and I can’t wait to see where it stands in relation to its rivals. In the meantime, winning my seventh consecutive world title is my main objective.”

Ogier, too, is looking forward to getting behind the wheel of the new machine, “I’m thrilled at the idea of driving the new generation World Rally Cars, and of defending the colours of the make at the topmost level.”

Full release after the break.

CITROEN GOES ALL SÉBASTIEN FOR THE DS3 IN 2011

Citroën is set to field an all-Sébastien team for the 2011 FIA World Rally Championship in the new Citroën DS3 with the announcement that the five time World Championship winning team has resigned Sébastien Loeb, the most successful rally driver of all time, for the 2011 season and inked a three year contract with Sébastien Ogier, who won his first World Championship rally this year in Portugal, after coming within 180 metres of a debut win in New Zealand.

The 2011 FIA World Rally Championship will mark a turning point in the history of the sport with the arrival of the new generation 4-wheel-drive 1600 cc turbo-powered cars. Having won five Manufacturers’ World Championship titles since 2003, Citroën has decided to stack all the odds in its favour by entering Sébastien Loeb and Sébastien Ogier.

“Obviously, it’s a double dose of satisfaction for Citroën Racing,” says Olivier Quesnel, Citroen Racing Team Principal. “Not content to have the greatest set of results in the history of rallying, Sébastien Loeb is still as hungry as ever for more victories and titles. His experience, his race intelligence, and his capacity to get 100 per cent out his cars, will be all the more crucial as we’ll have a new car next season. Citroën Racing has been preparing for the future with Sébastien Ogier for some time now. This is why we wanted to sign a contract with him for the next three seasons. Dani Sordo is still part of our plans for next year, but we have to finalise our budgets before announcing the full programme.”

Sébastien Loeb is nothing less than most successful rally driver of all time, measured in terms of most WRC wins, most WRC wins in one season, most consecutive WRC wins and a measure of his domination of the sport is that on Tarmac he has not been beaten for five years.

“My contract with Citroën allowed me to stop at the end of this year,” says Sébastien Loeb. “But my motivation and my will to win are still as strong as ever! The 2011 season will be my eleventh in the works Citroën colours. I think that the world championship will be a very interesting one, as the arrival of a new generation of cars will reshuffle the cards among the manufacturers. Of course, it’s no secret that we’re already working flat out on the new Citroën DS3, and I can’t wait to see where it stands in relation to its rivals. In the meantime, winning my seventh consecutive world title is my main objective.”

Nurtured by Citroën, Sébastien Ogier has demonstrated clearly that he has the talent and skill to be a leader in the next generation of rally drivers. Despite running in the second tier Citroën Junior Rally Team, Ogier has consistently taken the battle to the front of the field in 2011, culminating in an oh so near victory in New Zealand and then his debut WRC win in Portugal.

“I’d like to thank Citroën for renewing its confidence in me, and what’s more, for three seasons!” says Sébastien Ogier. “I made my world championship debut with this team, and I’ve always said that my priority was to stay with them. I’m thrilled at the idea of driving the new generation World Rally Cars, and of defending the colours of the make at the topmost level. Like Sébastien, I’m fully concentrated on the end of this season starting with the Finnish Rally, where I’ll be part of the Citroën Total World Rally Team for the first time!”