The Xsara WRC poised to leap.

Between the Acropolis Rally in mid-June and the ADAC Deutschland Rally at the end August, the Citro?n team is taking part in four consecutive rounds of the World Rally Championship.

Acquiring the capacity to enter several rallies in succession is one of the objectives set out for 2002, together with competing in events that are new to the team.

Three weeks after a highly successful debut in the Safari Rally, Automobiles Citro?n is continuing its initiation course at Rally Finland by lining up two Xsara WRCs, driven by Thomas Radstr?m / Denis Giraudet (No. 20) and S?bastien Loeb / Daniel Elena (No. 21).

Originally known as "Jyv?skyl?n Suurajot" - literally the big race held in the town of Jyv?skyl? - and then the Thousand Lakes Rally, the event is now called "Neste Rally Finland". Although the name has changed, the key characteristics for which the event remains famous the world over remain unchanged: its speed and its "yumps".

Finland's superb gravel roads are very wide. Space is certainly not lacking between the fir trees and the lakes. There are few tight bends in this low-relief country, so the specials tend to be at average speeds. The vast plateau of ancient rocks that underlies the forests is incredibly bumpy, hence the famous "yumps" that continuously launch the car into the air and carry it forwards, much to the delight of spectators. Rally fans generally adore the Finland event: a fact that has nothing to do with chance.

The Citro?n team has prepared thoroughly for this event, as usual. "We organised two sessions on the ground," says Guy Fr?quelin, "in which we worked on traction, since the gravel can be hard or soft in the special stages, as well as looking at side grip at high speed, jumps and landings."

In addition to conducting tests jointly with S?bastien Loeb, Thomas R?dstr?m and co-driver Denis Giraudet took part in and won the Rally M?ntt? on 29 June. This event, which is part of the Finnish championship, comprises 130 km of specials and its characteristics are similar to those of the Finland Rally. This win validated the technical choices made by the Citro?n team in rallying conditions.