Citroen expands 2016 WRC programme

In addition to the brace of cars for next week's Tour of Corsica, three Abu Dhabi-branded DS3 WRCs have been confirmed for next month's Rally of Spain - to be driven by Kris Meeke, Craig Breen and Khalid Al Qassimi.

Two or three entries are then expected for the final European round of the season, Rally GB at the end of October 27-30.

The season-closing Rally Australia had never been expected to form part of the squad's plans.

On the subject of a possible Welsh outing, Citroen team principal Yves Matton told Autosport: "It will be difficult not to be there, we have British and Irish crews and our company has a British CEO [Linda Jackson]! We will send somebody."

It remains to be seen whether Stephane Lefebvre can make it back to fitness in time to join the driver line-up for Rally GB.

The Frenchman and his co-driver Gabin Moreau are recovering from their Rally Germany crash and while Moreau has accepted he is out for the rest of the year, Lefebvre wants to be competing again before 2017.