Citroen Total Abu Dhabi WRT driver Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi has vowed to fight for the team title to the very last round of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) despite being 43 points adrift of leaders Volkswagen.
Speaking to Sport360 following Citroen’s debut of its updated DS 3 WRC at Rally Portugal, Sheikh Khalid sounded upbeat about the remainder of the season.
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Asked if it was realistically possible for Citroen to challenge for first place in the team championship with eight rounds to go, Sheikh Khalid said: “Yes, it is possible and we will keep on fighting till the end.”
Citroen have won the title eight times when Sebastien Loeb dominated the WRC between 2003-12, but the Frenchman’s departure has seen the French marquee struggling.
In Portugal, Kris Meeke and Mads Ostberg finished fourth and seventh respectively, and Sheikh Khalid said: “For Citroen Total Abu Dhabi WRT in general it was a good rally as we completed the event and gained valuable points to strengthen our second position in the championship.”
The Abu Dhabi native swapped his Citroen RRC regulation car for the updated DS 3 WRC and is happy with the car, saying: “The car was very competitive and we saw that with Kris and Mads. The updates are a very good step and there is more to come.”
Sheikh Khalid though conceded that the team had encountered some issues with the car on the brand-new Portugal stages, but said it is not something to be unduly worried about.
“I think we should look at the positive side of the story. Kris and Mads were very competitive even when they faced some issues with their cars towards the end of the rally."
Rally Italia Sardegna, round six of the championship, takes place from June 11-14.
