Citroen for Novikov in Spain

Evgeny Novikov will switch from a Ford Fiesta RS WRC to a Citroen DS3 WRC when he tackles RallyRACC-Rally de Espana later this month.

The Russian has tackled several rounds of this year’s world championship in a Fiesta run by the M-Sport Stobart operation, admittedly with limited success. However, he will change to a Citroen for the Catalunya round although he insists the move away from Ford will only be temporary.

“I will do Spain with Citroen but only Spain, GB we will do with Ford,” said Novikov, who is still chasing his first drivers’ championship points in 2011. “My sponsor wanted to try a Citroen and it’s a good opportunity to try a different car. It’s very interesting for me to try this car, to compare. It’s very good.”

Novikov will become one of the first drivers to sample two different tyres of the new-generation World Rally Car when he competes in Spain. He spent the bulk of the 2009 season with the Citroen Junior Team, where he earned a reputation as one of rallying’s most spectacular drivers after he inadvertently landed his car on its rear bumper following a dramatic jump on Neste Oil Rally Finland.

“He’s doing Spain in the Citroen and then he’s back with us for GB,” said M-Sport chief Malcolm Wilson. “His sponsor wanted to do it but he’s back with us for GB. He just wants to see the difference between the two cars.”