Loeb: "C4 is well born"

The new C4 Coupe had begun development earlier this year with Phillipe Bugalski running it for a couple of days before PSA, the mother company of both Peugeot and Citroen, decided that both companies would pull out of the WRC after 2005.

The development was put on hold until Citroen finally decided to take only a sabbatical in 2006 before returning in 2007 as a works team.

With the WRC regulations reverting from active to mechanical differentials from 2006, Citroen had to redesign the C4 before giving it its first test this week.

"Since the Rally of Catalunya and the announcement of Citroen's comeback in 2007 the whole team, including Sebastien, was motivated and very impatient to see the C4 WRC drive again," said team boss Guy Frequelin.

Bugalski completed over three hundred kilometres of dry weather testing on Tuesday and Wednesday before Loeb, the recently crowned Champion of Champions, stepped into the car for the first time on Thursday, going from the 'Col de Gratteloup' to 'Roquebrune' in the Var region.

"After a few kilometres, I felt confident despite the tricky road conditions," Loeb said. "The car is well-born and easy to drive. It has been designed according to the WRCs regulations, which means there are similar points with my usual car, such as the engine noise for example.

"Regarding the handling, I would say the suspension works well as far as vertical travel is concerned, which makes the car comfortable and efficient," he added. "I think we have an excellent basis to start working."

The C4 is also slightly wider than Loeb's previous mount, the Citroen Xsara WRC, as stipulated by the regulations, new ergonomics and a seating position situated further back in the car in order to centralise the centre of gravity.

The 2006 World Rally Championship gets underway with the traditional Monte Carlo Rally on January 20-22, which you can follow live on a drastically improved Eurosport.com.