JWRC: Fiandino eyes full season with C2-R2 in '07.

Fabien Fiandino has confirmed that he wants to compete in the FIA Junior World Rally Championship in 2007, using the new Citroen C2-R2.

Fiandino stepped up to the Junior WRC earlier on this season at the end of August, when he was drafted in by PH Sport to replace Brice Tirabassi, who crashed out in Germany and was then not fit enough to compete in Finland the following weekend. The Frenchman, who gave the C2-R2 its WRC debut, almost scored in Finland too, before going off the road near the end.

"I'm trying to put a programme together and my objective is to compete at the world level. I may as well aim straight for the top," he explained. "I have seen for myself that knowledge of events is a key parameter. Competing with a C2-R2 will enable me to play myself in gradually while at the same time building up a knowledge base of the World Championship rounds for a budget that is obviously lower than would have been necessary with a Super 1600 car.

"I was somewhat on my own in the R2 category with my C2 this year but that probably won't be the case in 2007. And that will mean that in addition to familiarising myself with the different events I will also have a fight on my hands."

Indeed Fiandino has been impressed with the C2-R2 on his two outings in the JWRC, and in addition to running with it in Finland, he also took in the Rally of Turkey in October.

"In Finland, I was impressed by the car's balance, even at high speeds, as well as by how easy it was to control through the corners. It also coped particularly well with the mud in Turkey," he added. "Its narrow track and wheels meant its traction was excellent, while its handling was effective and predictable even through the deeper ruts. The other things I like about the car are its sequential gearbox and outstanding suspension which really make it fun to drive. In the faster portions, when you're not slowing and re-accelerating all the time, its performance isn't that far off certain Super 1600s. Wales Rally GB is a fairly fast event, so that will be good for us."

Asked about this weekend's event in more detail, Fiandino added that he expects to tougher than it was in 2005, when he got his first taste of the Rally GB in a Group N Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII.

"I am told that last year's event was not typical of the 'RAC Rally'," he continued. "The conditions were dry, the weather was pleasant and the stages were in good condition. I drove a Group N car but my weekend was troubled by a spate of mechanical problems, although I managed to cover most of the stages in rally conditions, so I won't feel too unfamiliar with the terrain when we start recce. The conditions obviously won't be the same as they were when the rally took place in September. I expect them to be tougher but I have to say I'm really looking forward to the experience."

Citroen Sport's Customer Competition manager Yves Matton meanwhile reckons that Fiandino could have a big advantage in Wales if the conditions are tricky and he believes that the Frenchman could spring a surprise: "I will be counting on Fabien Fiandino to profit from the balance of his C2-R2. If the conditions are as difficult as some are predicting, its exceptional handling promises to be a big advantage," noted Matton.