Less is more

The Mtechnologies team has a soft spot for its ‘famous’ Citroën Xsara WRC. It’s the car that carried Marc Laboulle to the 2009 French championship and was then driven by Davy Jeanney to win the 2010 FRC. But instead of pensioning off the dear old lady they’ve pimped her up and, a bit like Madonna, she’s back to challenge the new kids on the block.

“We have downsized,” said team boss Laboulle, “We rebuilt the car to be lighter so that means we can use a smaller engine. The new concept engine is about 1.7-litres, so we are 90kg lighter than the others [1210kg with driver opposed to 1300kg for a two-litre turbo motor]. I think it’s possible that this is a good way to go if we can be light enough.”

The new Oreca-prepared engine is not the only change, the ancillaries around it have been changed to optimise the small capacity unit and the Xsara has also been fitted with the latest Sadev transmission and larger, 17in, diameter wheels as a part of the upgrading programme.

Getting the car finished was a bit of a last minute affair and, after testing with Oreca engineers at Magny Cours on Friday the team arrived in the small hours of Saturday morning but, on the evidence of the first day in the French ERC round, their efforts appear worthwhile, Laboulle fourth fastest in both timed practice and the first qualifying heat.

The Xsara is not the only part of the combination that has been subjected to a weight loss programme in preparation for the new season, Mtechnologies mascot, basset hound Alfonce, has also been on a diet. “The dog was too fat!” said Sylvie Laboulle, “I decided that dog and master must both lose weight so they have been on a diet together. I think it’s working!” All of which makes Laboulle’s situation somewhat better than in last year’s French ERC event where, after a lacklustre first day, Mme Laboulle threatened to make both Marc (slow) and Alfonce (smelly) sleep underneath the team bus!

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