Van Merksteijn Motorsport with Citroën DS3 WRC in 2011

Peter van Merksteijn junior will be at the start of ten rallies of the World Rally Championship with an optimum factory rally car of Citroën Racing. His car will be identical to the Citroën DS3 WRC with which World champion Sebastien Loeb will appear at the start. It is a unique situation that a Dutch rally driver will compete a season in the World Rally Championship with such an optimum, full factory car and with full factory support.

‘Junior’ has inherited his rally talent from his father. After his initial steps in the Dutch rally sport and winning in his debut year 2007 the Dutch rally championship group N, Van Merksteijn jnr. made the switch two years ago to driving WRC events.

Gerard Grouve, director/team manager of Van Merksteijn Motorsport: "Last year we won the Dutch rally title with Bernhard Ten Brinke and this year we have focused on preparing for the 2011 WRC season. The regulations for next year have changed dramatically and we wanted to be fully prepared at the start of the season. However, the available options were limited as there are only a few WRC cars available for next season. Therefore we are very excited that Peter van Merksteijn junior has the unique opportunity to enter in the WRC with an official factory car of Citroën Racing, the DS3 WRC."

10 WRC rallies

Peter van Merksteijn junior will take part in ten WRC events with a Citroën DS3 WRC which will be run by Citroën Racing. This team was this year also responsible for the entries of former Formula 1 World champion Kimi Räikkönen, Sebastien Ogier and Dani Sordo in the World Rally Championship.

Peter van Merksteijn junior: "The last few year I was unable to free myself enough from my full business schedule to drive rallies, and when I drive I want to do that the right way or not at all. For 2011 I will be fully dedicated to the rally sport since I have been given the unique chance to drive a factory car. And Citroën’s new rally car, the Citroën DS3 WRC seems me to be a super rally car to drive with. After all, World champion Sebastien Loeb has ful trusts in the DS3 WRC. I have ten WRC events scheduled for next year with which I am eligible to score points for the championship. I am looking forward to starting in these planned WRC events with the Rally Australia as preliminary highlight."

Van Merksteijn senior also with Citroën in WRC

Besides ‘Junior’ has Peter van Merksteijn senior also the intention to start in a number of WRC events with a Citroën DS3 WRC of Citroën Racing. Again Gerard Grouve: "A unique situation that two Dutch rally drivers of Van Merksteijn Motorsport will drive with a Citroën Racing factory car at the highest level of the rally sport. In preparation for the 2011 WRC season, Peter junior will be testing with Citroën Racing several times where he have the chance to learn a lot from the other Citroën factory drivers, seven times World champion Sebastien Loeb and super talent Sebastien Ogier."

Van Merksteijn junior will debut his Citroën DS3 WRC during next WRC Rally Sweden, which will be held from 10th through to 13th of February in the - snowy - area of Karlstad.