Citroen closer to solving driver puzzle

Mikko Hirvonen’s new team-mate for 2013 is expected to become known early next week.

Citroen team chief Yves Matton told WRC.com that he has yet to finalise the factory squad’s driver line-up for the FIA World Rally Championship next season but added that a decision was close.

“My decision will be at the end of this rally or very early in the days following Spain,” said Matton. “I am closer and closer to the final decision but it’s a bit like a puzzle and you need to put all the things in place.”

Matton’s decision is complicated by the requirement to accommodate Sebastien Loeb’s partial programme of approximately five events plus Abu Dhabi driver Khalid Al-Qassimi’s schedule, which is set to include the rounds not clashing with his Middle East championship commitments.

“I try to achieve [that Mikko’s team-mate does all 13 events] but there are a couple of things to manage. It’s exciting because you need to think about it and take some positions and that’s always a risk. In the other way it’s good that Citroen is in the position to take the driver it wants. This proves we are doing a good job.”