Citroën Racing has started building on its Rally Turkey 1-2 finish with a three-day test in Wales this week.

Eric Camilli, Sébastien Ogier and Esapekka Lappi will drive the C3 in development running and for a set-up test ahead of next month’s Wales Rally GB (3 - 6 October). Camilli is first in the car with the Frenchman testing key suspension components before handing the C3 to Ogier.

Ogier arrives in Wales fresh from a victory in Turkey which played him firmly back into contention for a seventh straight world title. He heads into the penultimate European round of the season just 17 points behind Ott Tänak.

Citroën team principal Pierre Budar admitted this week’s test could be key for delivering a suspension upgrade in time for the Llandudno-based round.

“We have some new parts available,” said Budar, “but we don’t know until we have completed the test whether we will use them. The work is coming more in the suspension and chassis and could be giving us some additional positive points on the set-up for Wales.

“For sure we have to improve the traction and the grip, it’s regarding this. It’s quite a significant step if we use it – it is new homologated parts.

“Eric will drive the car on the first day of the test and give the engineers some data on how are the new parts. Doing it this way, he can try all of the parts and it means the drivers (Ogier and Lappi) don’t lose time on their set-up test trying new and different things.”

Ogier is the most successful driver in the history of Rally GB. He’s the only driver to have won Britain’s WRC counter five times.

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