Jean-Joseph joins Citroen for 2004.

Citroen Sport has signed Renault's Simon Jean-Joseph for 2004, seemingly making him their 'third driver', following changes to the FIA World Rally Championship rules back in June.

Jean-Joseph will thus team up with Sebastien Loeb, who was confirmed at the team in July. The announcement, which was strangely made by Renault, has yet to be rubber stamped by Citroen, who have yet to release their own statement.

The position of the other two current Citroen drivers - Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz remains under review, and it is uncertain, which, if any of them will stay with the outfit next year - although one will have to go, owing to the new third driver regulations.

Jean-Joseph is the current French Super 1600 Rally championship leader and he has also excelled on the WRC scene this year, where he has secured three-successive Class A6 wins from the first four events of 2003.

Bernard Ollivier, general manager of Renault Sport Technologies, commented: "Apart from the disappointment of seeing such a talented driver leave the Clio Team, I am obviously very proud of Renault Sport's contribution to Simon's return to the WRC limelight. At the wheel of his Clio Super 1600, which has proved both quick and reliable over all types of terrain, Simon has shown we were right to have confidence in him before the others."

"My move will in no way affect my determination - with the support of Brice [Tirabassi] - to win the French Super 1600 title for Renault Sport and its partners," added Jean-Joseph, "Renault's return to rallying is effectively a challenge I have taken very much to heart. Since the start of 2002, my commitment has been 100 per cent and I intend to continue giving it everything I've got right up to the final stage of the season to achieve this objective."