Martin Prokop was today given his first run at the wheel of a Citroën Xsara WRC on a gravel road near Chablis, close to Auxerre in the Burgundy region of France. The test session was organised by Citroën Sport as a reward for the results obtained by the Czech driver within the framework of this year’s C2 Junior Experience.
The Jipocar driver finished third in the 2007 FIA Junior Rally Championship, notching up two wins (Germany, Corsica) and one second place (Spain) with his Citroën C2 Super 1600. His prize, as specified in the regulations of the C2 Junior Experience, was a test drive in Citroën WRC car.
For Martin Prokop, the experience was an early Christmas. Despite temperatures that dipped to near freezing point (4°C), the 25-year ol d had no hesitation when it came to sampling the car that has secured three world titles in rallying’s premier series: “I immediately felt at ease. In fact, the cockpit is laid out in a strikingly similar way to my Citroën C2 Super 1600, so I didn’t need much time to familiarise myself with everything! The Xsara WRC might seem impressive from the outside but once inside I found it to be extremely comfortable and very quick, too, thanks to its good suspension set-up. It was tremendous fun and I don’t think I’m likely ever to forget this day! “
After the hundred or so kilometres covered by Martin Prokop in the course of the session, Citroën Sport’s Customer Competition Manager Yves Matton was very pleased with the way the day had unfolded: “In addition to showing genuine professionalism, Martin didn’t seem to have any trouble adapting to the Citroën Xsara WRC. We were delighted with the way he approached the car. I wish him every luck for next season. If he succeeds in finishing first or second in next year’s FIA Junior Championship with his Citroën C2 Super 1600, it’s not just a test drive he will win but the chance to contest one or two events with a Citroën WRC car, as stipulated in the C2 Junior Experience regulations…”
Before the start of next year’s FIA Junior campaign at the wheel of a Citroën C2 Super 1600, Martin Prokop will contest the last two rounds of the 2007 World Rally Championship (Ireland and Wales Rally GB) in a Group N car “to gain a little extra experience”. Next year, the young Czech hopes to take revenge and try to win the ‘Junior’ title and consequently follow in the footsteps of Citroën Sport’s WRC drivers Sébastien Loeb (2001) and Dani Sordo (2005) who both won the series earlier in their careers.
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