The 27-year-old secured the French tarmac championship title this year in a Citroën C3 Rally2 car and will now step up to compete in the World Rally Championship. Rossel will drive a full seven-round WRC2 programme with the French PH Sport team.
“I knew that Monte Carlo was good for a few weeks, but I didn’t know what would happen next. So I’m going to start with this rally with a programme of seven races in WRC2. After that, I’ll go to the Canaries and we’ve also planned Central Europe to do the European rounds on asphalt,” Rossel told Rallye-Sport.
“The team would like me to discover Finland in my first year. Then, Sardinia and Portugal will normally be on the programme. For the last one, maybe Greece. My programme should be 70% identical to Yohan’s.”
Leo Rossel will join his two-years-older brother, Yohan Rossel, as a teammate. Yohan has already gained significant experience in the WRC.
“It’s really great that we’re together. I’ll be able to learn faster with a top rider like him, even if I know that I won’t have the same speed as him at all. In terms of settings, I know that those of the World Championship and the French Championship are very different, we’ll be starting almost from scratch,” Leo Rossel summarised.
“I think I have more or less the same driving style as him and that should allow me to progress faster.”
It’s clear that gravel rallies, in particular, will be a learning experience for the younger Rossel.
“I hope to be more efficient in rounds like the Canaries and Central Europe. In Monte Carlo, I would be happy if I am between 1s and 1.3s per kilometer of the best,” Leo concluded.
