Mads Ostberg
The Hunt for pure speed
The “Finland Grand Prix” is the fastest event on the World Championship calendar. When they won here in 2012, Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena set an all-time record with an average speed of 122.89kph!
“At speeds like that, you need a lot of experience to be among the leaders,” emphasized Marek Nawarecki, Deputy Team Principal. “Having appeared in Finland eight times before, Mads will be competing at one of his favourite rallies. Kris also knows this rally very well, having made six starts here already and having competed in one of our DS3 WRCs last year.
This experience will help our drivers to get up to speed straight away. The goal is the same as ever, we will be trying to secure podium finishes. With all the work done so far this season, Mads and Kris feel comfortable in the DS3 WRC. The second half of the season will give us the opportunity to turn their good form into results.”
“Technically speaking, the Finnish route calls for great precision in the set-up of the cars. It’s a very complicated rally to win,”admitted Didier Clément, the DS3 WRC’s Chief Operations Engineer. “It took us several years before we managed to win here. You need to know the course very well and avoid making even the slightest mistake. It’s a sprint from start to finish and there is virtually no chance of making up any time lost though mistakes.”
To prepare for this round, a test session has been scheduled just before recce: “Nothing is left to chance. More so than elsewhere, the drivers must be able to feel confident in the car. It has to be particularly responsive. Usually, we always look for a balanced set-up, an effective compromise. In Finland, above all else, you need pure speed!”
During these tests, the Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team will also be preparing for the future. Michelin will be providing new tyres, which will be making their competitive bow at this rally. The DS3 WRCs will also be equipped with several upgrades as part of the development programme initiated for 2015.
Mads Ostberg constantly improving
Since his first appearance at Rally Finland in 2006, when he was only 18 years old, Mads Østberg has improved his results year by year. Seventh in 2010, he finished sixth in 2011, fifth in 2012 and was third in 2013!
“Experience is the key to going quickly on all of the stages. Having competed here eight times before means I have acquired the confidence you need. It is also one of my favourite events. I think that came across last year,” emphasized Mads.
“You also need a car with a perfect set-up so you can commit fully to the course, no holds barred. Pace notes will also be important to be able to attack the jumps confidently. I’m expecting it to be a good fight. We’ll need to go at a strong pace from start to finish to try and keep moving up in the overall standings, which is what I have managed to do every year since my first appearance here!”
Back to Finland for Meeke
At his very first rally in the DS3 WRC, Kris Meeke made a very strong impression at the 2013 Rally Finland. Lying fifth overall with just two stages to go, the Briton had shown his skills in adapting to the extremely quick roads. “I had set some second- and third-fastest times in the first two days of the rally,” he recalled. “But Iacked a bit of consistency in order to stay in touch with the leaders.
This time around, Kris feels even better equipped: “The second half of the season is going to be really different. I’m going to be driving at events that I am already familiar with, and I’m hoping that my experience will count. This will be particularly the case in Finland: at such high speeds, you need perfect lines. The steering wheel isn’t much use when your wheels are flying through the air!”
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