Citroen aim to run C4 this season

The replacement for the ultra-successful Xsara WRC is slated to make its debut in next year's Monte Carlo Rally, but recent speculation suggests the firm could repeat Ford's move of last season, when the Focus RS WRC 06 was completed in time for the final round of the 2005 season in Australia.

Citroen's team principal Guy Frequelin said the French manufacturer is working flat-out on the development of the C4, with the aim of it contesting a rally before the end of 2006.

"We would like to use the C4 in a rally before the end of the year," said Frequelin. "We will be trying to do an event, but, at this stage, it is not decided. We have a lot of work to do with the car.

"The car is going well, but you have to remember that there are less people in the factory this year and there is less budget."

The C4 WRC continued its test programme last week, when Sebastien Loeb drove the car on gravel near Vic in Spain.

Frequelin, who will be present in Corsica this weekend for a WRC manufacturers meeting, said the next stage of the C4's development was to run it back to back with the current Xsara WRC.