Citroën's plan for future: DTM instead Rally ???

[MJW]

Autosport in UK today runs a story that Oliver Quensel did visit a DTM round and was very impressed with the promotion of the series. He also said that the new C5 is pitched against German marques, Audi A4 and C clas Merc and that racing against them is appealing. Also the current rally deal continues to end of 2009 with Loeb driving. Motorsport will be reviewd by the Citroen board but as Sporting Director it is his (Quensel's) responsibility to provide the company with the best marketing for the products. Like all manufacturers Citroen are in motorsport to sell cars and the current promotion of the WRC is woefully inadequate. The future direction for Citroen Sport will become apparent in due course, but until end of 2009 nothing changes, C4 / WRC/ Loeb.

[Buzz Lightyear]

Oliver Quensel did visit a DTM round and was very impressed with the promotion of the series. .

Motorsport will be reviewd by the Citroen board but as Sporting Director it is his (Quensel's) responsibility to provide the company with the best marketing for the products.

these 2 statements combined mean... "see ya wrc.... were off to DTM"

at least in an official capacity.

[ste898]

If Citroen do leave WRC you can thank the clown that they have in charge now Oliver Quensel he does'nt look to be a big fan of rallying and getting his feet wet........
Let him go to the roundy roundy rubbish and let someone else take over the Citroen WRC team

What exactly do Citroen do to promote all their wins in WRC? bring out a hot C4 no? Adverts in papers NO......same with Ford!!!!!

[MJW]

STE898 I think thats a bit unfair of you to say that about Quensel, sure he is a little naiive about some things, I'm sure the engine change fiasco in Mexico and the fact that they were outsmarted by Ford on running order tactics last day in Jordan seemed a bit "new boy" and that if Frequelin was in charge those mistakes may not have occured. On the other hand Quensel did want to break away from the 3 stages and 2 hours in service park type of wrc we now have and go back to old style events. He is paid to do a job and ensure Citroen's name is there, you have to ask winning wrc year on year is getting a bit boring, maybe Citroen need a fresh challenge.

[Buzz Lightyear]

If Citroen do leave WRC you can thank the clown that they have in charge now Oliver Quensel he does'nt look to be a big fan of rallying and getting his feet wet........
Let him go to the roundy roundy rubbish and let someone else take over the Citroen WRC team

What exactly do Citroen do to promote all their wins in WRC? bring out a hot C4 no? Adverts in papers NO......same with Ford!!!!!

indeed...citroens image in WRC is very bland.

reality is DTM, and any roundy roundy racing, is easier covered for TV, easier for spectators to get to, and allows big brands to do the full corporate hospitality deal. In the case of DTM, possibilty draws more viewers than WRC.

Maybe its a complete change of business marketing, to promoting the new C5, which is actually quite nice, after making sure a mess of the first version.

I expect Oliver Quensel is only being told what to do.

[Daniel]

If Citroen do leave WRC you can thank the clown that they have in charge now Oliver Quensel he does'nt look to be a big fan of rallying and getting his feet wet........
Let him go to the roundy roundy rubbish and let someone else take over the Citroen WRC team

What exactly do Citroen do to promote all their wins in WRC? bring out a hot C4 no? Adverts in papers NO......same with Ford!!!!!

For once I mostly agree with you.

Though there is a C4 VTS with a 180bhp engines but these days that's not considered hot I suppose.

[L5->R5/CR]

If Citroen do leave WRC you can thank the clown that they have in charge now Oliver Quensel he does'nt look to be a big fan of rallying and getting his feet wet........
Let him go to the roundy roundy rubbish and let someone else take over the Citroen WRC team

What exactly do Citroen do to promote all their wins in WRC? bring out a hot C4 no? Adverts in papers NO......same with Ford!!!!!

Advertising by teams goes hand in hand with the visibility of the series.

If the WRC was more aware, more followed, and more broadly respected then it would behoove sucessful teams to promote their success. As it stands currently those teams would have to spend as much time and money promoting themselves as explaining the WRC.

There is no value in telling someone you won something they have heard nothing about.

[Daniel]

Advertising by teams goes hand in hand with the visibility of the series.

If the WRC was more aware, more followed, and more broadly respected then it would behoove sucessful teams to promote their success. As it stands currently those teams would have to spend as much time and money promoting themselves as explaining the WRC.

There is no value in telling someone you won something they have heard nothing about.

But you could argue it works the other way around also. Who wants to watch a series when they don't really know who's competing and who's winning because the manufacturers don't advertise their presence in the series.

[BDunnell]

What exactly do Citroen do to promote all their wins in WRC? bring out a hot C4 no? Adverts in papers NO......same with Ford!!!!!

They would do if they thought anyone cared, but because the WRC is at such a low ebb, the fact that Citroen is winning in it doesn't matter to potential car buyers. Simple as that. S2000 can't come too soon.

[RS]

Autosport in UK today runs a story that Oliver Quensel did visit a DTM round and was very impressed with the promotion of the series. He also said that the new C5 is pitched against German marques, Audi A4 and C clas Merc and that racing against them is appealing. Also the current rally deal continues to end of 2009 with Loeb driving. Motorsport will be reviewd by the Citroen board but as Sporting Director it is his (Quensel's) responsibility to provide the company with the best marketing for the products. Like all manufacturers Citroen are in motorsport to sell cars and the current promotion of the WRC is woefully inadequate. The future direction for Citroen Sport will become apparent in due course, but until end of 2009 nothing changes, C4 / WRC/ Loeb.

Same article reports that Suzuki may be off at the end of this year, so unless the new Subaru is half decent we may be reduced to a Focus one make championship.