Third JWRC win for Lefebvre
Frenchman moves closer to world title
Lefebvre eyes JWRC crown in France
After three wins from the opening four rounds, Stéphane Lefebvre could secure the FIA Junior WRC title at Rallye de France-Alsace (2 - 5 October).
Victories in Portugal, Poland and Germany have enabled the young Frenchman to build a 29-point lead and a fourth success on home asphalt this weekend will guarantee him the championship with a round in hand.
The permutations are endless, but provided Lefebvre concedes minimal points to his closest rivals (less than four to Martin Koči, seven to Quentin Giordano and 14 to Alastair Fisher) he will lift the title and net a drive in a Citroen DS3 R5 in six WRC 2 rounds next season.
But Lefebvre won’t find it easy. Koči showed strong asphalt pace at ADAC Rallye Deutschland before retiring while Giordano, who grew up just a few kilometres from Friday’s Pays d’Ormont stage, has finished on the podium in each of his last three outings.
Christian Riedemann, fourth in the standings, has withdrawn his entry but three youngsters from Citroen Racing’s development programme will hope to shine at their home rally.
Eric Camilli led the JWRC at his debut in Germany, while Alsatian Frédéric Hauswald has twice finished his local round. Yohan Rossel, just 19, will make his WRC debut.
Ten crews are entered for the three-day rally and all will be at the wheel of Citroen DS3 R3s.
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