Chilton: Citroën WTCC factory is F1 standard

Tom Chilton says Citroën Racing’s Versailles headquarters is on par with the premises of leading Formula One teams Mercedes and Williams.

Chilton will drive one of the French firm’s C-Elysée WTCCs for the privateer Sébastien Loeb Racing operation in this season’s FIA World Touring Car Championship.

Ahead of his first test of the all-conquering car in Italy earlier this month, Chilton was given a tour of Citroën Racing’s base near Paris and the Briton was impressed by the experience.

“Just to have a factory tour of Citroën Racing was absolutely incredible,” said Chilton. “I’ve been around a couple of Formula One factories, Mercedes and Williams, and I’ve been around RML, which is a fantastic big factory. But Citroën Racing was very, very impressive.”

And Chilton was also impressed following his first try of the C-Elysée WTCC at Autodromo Vallelunga. “I was very impressed and I understand why it’s so good because there are a lot of very clever people behind it. It’s an honour to be driving the car and I just can’t wait to get the first round under my belt.”