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While several people expected Qatar to acquire the Citroën World Rally Team for next season, it seems now that a new partnership would link the French make to Abu Dhabi.
As we explained in previous articles, several signs seemed to confirm that Qatar would be leaving the World Rally Championship at the end of the season, and the Rallye de France Alsace would be the last WRC event for Nasser Al-Attiyah.
Now it seems that Abu Dhabi would back the two works Citroën DS3s for the full WRC campaign next season.
The first car would be driven by Khalid Al Qassimi, who has contested several WRC events in the past seasons ina Ford Focus WRC ran by the BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team. T
he second car would be driven by Thierry Neuville, who'd be promoted as a works driver of the Citroën Rally Team. Neuville is currently driving for the Citroen Junior team.
Sebastien Loeb would stop full time rallying but could contest selected WRC events in roder to help Citroen.
Loeb's currenbt teammate Mikko Hirvonen's future is quite unsure. He may move back to Ford, replacing Jari-Matti Latvala if the Finn joins Volkswagen, or Petter Solberg if the Norwegian joins Hyundai, which is developing an i20 WRC for 2013.
Hirvonen could also join Hyundai himself next year, as the vast experience of the current Citroën driver would be very helpful to the Korean car manufacturer.
The deal linking Citroën and Abu Dhabi -- which would run for the next five years -- could be announced at the Rallye de France Alsace, next round of the WRC.
As we explained in previous articles, several signs seemed to confirm that Qatar would be leaving the World Rally Championship at the end of the season, and the Rallye de France Alsace would be the last WRC event for Nasser Al-Attiyah.
Now it seems that Abu Dhabi would back the two works Citroën DS3s for the full WRC campaign next season.
The first car would be driven by Khalid Al Qassimi, who has contested several WRC events in the past seasons ina Ford Focus WRC ran by the BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team. T
he second car would be driven by Thierry Neuville, who'd be promoted as a works driver of the Citroën Rally Team. Neuville is currently driving for the Citroen Junior team.
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| Jari-Matti Latvala aboard the Abu Dhabi Focus Ford in 2010. (Photo: WRC) |
Sebastien Loeb would stop full time rallying but could contest selected WRC events in roder to help Citroen.
Loeb's currenbt teammate Mikko Hirvonen's future is quite unsure. He may move back to Ford, replacing Jari-Matti Latvala if the Finn joins Volkswagen, or Petter Solberg if the Norwegian joins Hyundai, which is developing an i20 WRC for 2013.
Hirvonen could also join Hyundai himself next year, as the vast experience of the current Citroën driver would be very helpful to the Korean car manufacturer.
The deal linking Citroën and Abu Dhabi -- which would run for the next five years -- could be announced at the Rallye de France Alsace, next round of the WRC.