Following victories in Mexico and Jordan, Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena have now set their sights on a hat trick with a win at round four of the World Rally Championship in Turkey this weekend (15-18 April).

Winners of this event in 2004 and 2005, the duo are aiming to increase their lead in the Drivers’ World Championship and further secure the Citroën Total World Rally Team’s position at the top of the Manufacturers’ classification. Dani Sordo and Marc Marti are also fresh from a fourth place finish in Jordan and after their first 2010 podium.

Rally Turkey, which has been on the World Rally Championship calendar five times since 2003, takes place in Kemer near Istanbul and will provide a brand new route to test the drivers along the scenic backdrop of the Marmara Sea, the Bosphorous River and the Black Sea.

Loeb is clearly relishing the challenge ahead “I’ve heard that the stages are fairly wide and quick so driving should be great fun.” The six-time world champion already has a 25-point lead over Jari-Matti Latvala, his closest rival, so he’s feeling confident about the fourth round: “Twenty-five points equals a victory. It’s always good to have an ace up your sleeve but the way the 2009 season panned out, reminded us that you can’t lose any points along the way. We’re going to start the rally with the firm intention of winning.”

Dani Sordo will also be aiming for a place on the podium after the Spaniard finished a strong fourth in Jordan: “After a couple of disappointing rallies in terms of results, it was important to boost my confidence. That’s what we did in Jordan with a few good times.

At the end of the rally we opted for caution as the points for fourth place were vital for the team. I now want to take advantage of my new-found confidence to go for my first podium of the season. I’m sure that the C4 WRC will be very quick on this type of terrain.” Marc Marti is the only member of the team to have taken part in all the Turkish rallies. In 2003, he won the first event with Carlos Sainz (Citroën Xsara WRC).

THREE QUESTIONS TO SÉBASTIEN LOEB

The 2010 season’s got off to a good start for you with a second place and then two victories. You’ve already built up a good lead…
That makes me smile as some said that my second place in Sweden showed a drop in motivation on my part! Just so as there’s no misunderstanding, I have no intention of stopping the clock at fifty-six victories. What’s interesting is that the 2010 season doesn’t boil down to a duel between Mikko Hirvonen and me. There’s also Jari-Matti Latvala, who now seems able to combine speed and consistency, as well as Petter Solberg and Sébastien Ogier. They’ll all able to fight at the front and that includes Dani too. For the moment that plays in my favour but it could also make my job more difficult.”

Rally Turkey is being held on a new route. What does that change for you?
“I’m going to have to concentrate a lot more during reconnaissance. When we’ve got our old notes and the route hasn’t changed all that much in relation to the previous event, I know where the major traps and bumps are and I don’t have to worry too much. In this case, we just fine-tune the details. When we recce a stage for the first time it’s a lot more complicated. At 70 km/h (NB: in reconnaissance, the speed is limited and checked by GPS), I have to try and imagine at what speed we’ll arrive there in the race to note the corners and the bumps.”

Once again sweeping will be a sore point …
“Yes, and I don’t like that very much. It’s a shame that all the attention is focused on this aspect rather than on the battle between the crews. My point of view hasn’t changed for over two years. I think that reversing the running order of the first fifteen on the second and third days is the best solution. There are no calculations to be made and everybody has to push from start to finish.”