The French marque started testing in April, and has already completed a couple of runs with the C3 WRC, which will mark the team's full-time return to the series.

Having started testing in South France and Portugal, Kris Meeke, Stephane Lefebvre and Craig Breen completed the second part of the preparations on dirt roads of Finland.

Citroen will be represented in Finland and China, two of the next three rallies, by PH Sport, fielding a pair of DS3s for Meeke and Breen in the former event. In China, Meeke will be the manufacturer's sole representative.

As team boss Yves Matton suggested a couple of weeks ago, it has been confirmed after Rally Poland that Citroen will enter the 2017 season with two cars, one less than Volkswagen and Hyundai.

While Volkswagen is set to continue with its existing trio Sebastien Ogier, Jari-Matti Latvala and Andreas Mikkelsen, Hyundai only has Hayden Paddon under contract so far for 2017.

Matton wants Neuville

While Meeke has already been confirmed with Citroen next year, Matton plans to find another driver capable of fighting with championship pacesetters Volkswagen from the outset.

Neuville, who started his WRC career within Citroen's ranks, is said to be willing to make the switch from Hyundai next year.

The Belgian endured a poor second half of last year and had an inconsistent start to the 2016 season as well, damaging his relationship with Hyundai team manager Alain Penasse.

Should Citroen manage to sign Neuville, youngsters Lefebvre and Breen would be frozen out of the team's primary line-up.

But PH Sport is set to continue with two DS3s in 2017 for Lefebvre and Breen, with the Frenchman having the option of joining the main team in case Neuville stays with Hyundai.

Further tarmac and gravel tests planned

Meanwhile, the French squad continues to test its 2017-spec machinery.

Citroen aims to speed up the development of the C3 WRC by running it on both gravel and tarmac in order to prepare for its debut in Rally Monte-Carlo, which will take place in around six months.

Additional reporting by Giacomo Rauli