CITROËN CHANGES DRIVER LINE-UP FOR SECOND HALF OF WRC SEASON

Citroën Racing is making some changes to its nominated driver line-ups for the second half of the 2010 FIA World Rally Championship. After an exemplary start to the season, Sébastien Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia from the Citroën Junior Team will switch places with Dani Sordo and Marc Marti for the pure gravel stages of Finland, Japan and Great Britain – a move aimed at maximizing Citroën’s chances of retaining both world titles. Dani Sordo and Marc Marti will remain in the Citroën Total World Rally Team for the four asphalt rounds.

Citroën currently leads both the manufacturer and driver championships, with Sébastien Loeb topping the drivers’ standings, 26 points ahead of Sébastien Ogier with 88 points. The Citroën Total World Rally Team has a total of 189 points, ahead of the BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team with 163.

Dani Sordo and Marc Marti will drive for the Citroën Junior Team – currently third in the manufacturers’ rankings with 106 points – during the gravel events, and return to the Citroën Total World Rally Team on the four asphalt rallies of Bulgaria, Germany, France and Spain.

“Even if we currently hold the advantage in both World Rally Championship classifications, we need to make sure that every opportunity comes our way,” said Olivier Quesnel, the director of Citroën Racing. “The 2009 season showed just how easily a favorable situation can reverse itself.”

“Looking at the way things have gone in the first part of the season, it seems that Ogier and Ingrassia would be able to help us to achieve our objectives on gravel. But I do not want people to think that this reflects in any way badly on Dani Sordo and Marc Marti. They have had a slightly troubled start to the season and they need to get their confidence back. Driving in theCitroën Junior Team will give them the chance to compete without pressure and rediscover their form. Given the performance of our crews since the start of the season, I think that this will be the best line-up to help us meet our targets.”