Citroen to kill Loeb-Duval fight with team orders?

Citroen boss, Guy Frequelin has hinted that they might have to introduce team orders on the Rallye Deutschland, in order to ensure both Sebastien Loeb and Francois Duval get to the finish.

Citroen utterly blitzed the opposition during the opening leg Friday, winning all six of the days' tests, and completing a one-two through everyone just for good measure. However, while Duval has shone, and is just 11.7 seconds off Loeb following leg 1, Frequelin has admitted that he may have to 'think about the situation, in light of the drivers' and constructors' championships'.

"Six stages - six first- and second-fastest times! I am very pleased to see Francois at his true level. After the first loop, I left it open between the two of them, although I reminded them that I need them both to finish," stated Frequelin.

"This evening however, I will have to think about it...

"Sebastien is unbeaten here and is aiming for the Drivers' title, while Francois is dreaming of scoring his first win. I've also got to think about the difficult fight we are engaged in to defend our Manufacturers' title. I'll sleep on it; tomorrow will be another day!"

Citroen currently lead Peugeot in the manufacturers' championship by just one solitary point.

Furthermore while team tactics would be nothing new or hardly surprisingly - remember Citroen told Loeb back at the Rally GB in 2003 to take it easy in order to take the constructors' championship, even though he was in contention for the drivers' title, which eventually went to Petter Solberg - it is not much consolation for those wanting to see a real fight.

Nor is it much consolation for Duval, who would obviously dearly love to take his first WRC win and in the process vanquish memories of his two-race 'break'. A victory wouldn't do his job prospects for 2006 any harm either.