On Wedesday the Citroen Racing unveiled their Citroen C3 Rally2 customer line-up for the 2021 rally season across the globe where a total of 28 drivers are presented to be chasing titles in four different FIA rally championships and ten national championships.
The two-time FIA European Rally Champion Alexey Lukyanuk announced another year in the 2021 European Rally Championship and a continuation with both the C3 Rally2 and Sainteloc Racing operating the car. The Russian has among the other drivers presented, to have a support from Citroen Racing.
Mads Ostberg and Sean Johnston are driving in the FIA World Rally Championship´s WRC2 series, in the private WRC3 class there are three French drivers Eric Camilli, Nicolas Ciamin and Yohan Rossel who will get the support of the factory. Alongside Lukyanuk, Yoann Bonato will also be driving in the ERC with the C3 Rally2. In the FIA NACAM (North and Central America) series it is Ricardo Cordero who will be recieving support.
Ostberg revealed earlier he will be chasing titles in two different series this season as he goes for the Hungarian crown. At the manufacturer´s home in France the interest is the greatest, where five drivers of Yoann Bonato, Jean-Baptiste Franceschi, Mathieu Arzeno, Pierre Rocher and William Wagner will have support. Nicolas Ciamin and Kris Princen will be in Belgium, Marijan Griebel and a to be confirmed driver will be driving in the German championship.
Jan Solans has support in Spain and in the Portuguese championship there are José Pedro Fontes and Pedro Antunes, Antunes has won his with Citroen seat thanks to the victory in the Spanish / Portuguese Peugeot 208 Rally Cup last season. Lukasz Kotarba drives in Poland, Roland Poom in Estonia and Ricardo Cordero in Mexico.
Big investment is also happening in Chile where the brothers Alberto and Pedro Heller are getting the support alongside the brothers Benjamin and Vicente Israel in the same championship.
“After making a winning start to its competitive career, C3 Rally2 wasted no time in convincing many drivers of its qualities, both in terms of performance and how easy it is to drive. Whether you are a talented youngster, an ambitious racer or a gentleman driver, you now have a car that meets all of your needs.
“We are all proud to see C3 Rally2 compete again in the WRC2 and the ERC this year, as well as in some of the biggest national championships in Europe or in the Americas. Above all, it confirms the excellent work done by Citroën Racing’s teams. Our technical advisors are still working to constantly offer our drivers a fast and effective car, regardless of the road surface, anywhere in the world,” Mayeul Tyl, Peugeot Citroën Racing Shop Manager, said.
Didier Clément, Head of Customer Racing, Citroën Racing, said: “Since it made its official debut at the 2018 Tour de Corse, all our teams have worked tirelessly to enable C3 Rally2 to become WRC World Champion with Mads Østberg in 2020. We are particularly proud to be able to provide our customers with a ‘world championship-winning’ car.
“The drivers will be able to benefit from all of our expertise to enjoy themselves and win races in C3 Rally2. With a far-reaching set of specifications implemented in terms of performance and driving comfort, C3 Rally2 is capable of challenging for the leading positions in the biggest national and international championships.”
