This season Lancia is competing in the WRC2 category with the Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale, driven by Frenchman Yohan Rossel and Nikolay Gryazin, who competes under a Bulgarian licence.
Rossel already got to experience the reaction the return has sparked among rally fans yesterday on Wednesday, when he drove the first official kilometres with the new rally car on the Monte Carlo Rally test special stage.
“It’s incredible when you see that passion among the spectators. I really didn’t expect this level of enthusiasm before Lancia’s return was announced,” Rossel said.
“Of course we are here to drive and we can’t forget that, but the excitement is absolutely crazy,” Rossel continued.
On the test special stage Rossel was immediately at a fairly decent pace and the car felt good straight away.
“There were no surprises. The car felt good. The shakedown was of course quite different compared to the other stages at the weekend. We need to be really wise with tyre choices,” Rossel previewed.
The conditions at the Monte Carlo Rally are once again a big mystery. However, the Stellantis group is ready, Rossel assures.
“The car is ready. We already have a lot of experience of Monte Carlo, especially within the Stellantis group. We know this is going to be really challenging from the driver’s point of view, but the car is definitely ready,” the French driver said.
