Citroen signs up Belgian Neuville
Thierry Neuville became the first Belgian driver to sign up for the World Rally Championship since Francois Duval in 2005 when he was hired by Citroen on Monday for at least nine of the 13 rallies next season.
The 23-year-old, winner of two rounds of the second-tier IRC championship last season, is seen by Citroen as an investment for the future just as Frenchman Sebastien Ogier was.
The 27-year-old Ogier, who finished third in this year's World Rally Championships after notching up five victories, signed for Volkswagen after being released from his Citroen contract this month. Ogier had made it clear towards the business end of the season as he closed in on Citroen's lead driver and eight-time world champion Sebastien Loeb that he was not happy at the preferential treatment given to his compatriot.
Neuville, though, did not sound like a potential troublemaker following the announcement.
"I am still finding it hard to believe," said Neuville. "The 2011 season was very positive, with two wins in legendary and difficult rallies like the Tour of Corsica and Sanremo. It is imperative that I move up another gear and I am proud that Citroen Racing have placed their confidence in me for 2012."
Citroen Racing director Olivier Quesnel said that the team believed he was worthy of the risk.
"We decided that the moment had come to give him his opportunity at the highest level," he said. "Like Sebastien Ogier recently, Thierry will have at his disposal a team which will permit him complete his learning curve."
Neuville is the third new arrival at Citroen. He follows Finland's three-time world championship runner-up Mikko Hirvonen and Qatar's Dakar Rally champion Nasser Al-Attiyah.
Neuville should make his WRC debut in the Monte Carlo Rally on 18 January.