Citroen leaves door open to future Ogier reunion

Ogier started his WRC career with Citroen, spending two years with its junior team before being promoted to the factory team for selected events in 2010 and then the full season in 2011.

He then joined Volkswagen for the next five years, claiming four world titles between 2013 and 2016 before the German marque exited the series.

Ogier eventually joined M-Sport, but also did a test for Toyota and was linked to a return to Citroen as well.

Matton however said signing Ogier would have been impossible, because Citroen had already decided on its driver line-up of Kris Meeke, Craig Breen and Stephane Lefebvre at the time Volkswagen's exit was revealed.

"It was not a question to come back on the commitment we had with our young drivers [Lefebvre and Breen], it was just not possible," Matton told Motorsport.com.

"It doesn't mean that we never do something with him [Ogier], but in 2017, it was not possible."

"We announced our strategy before Volkswagen announced that they will be out of the championship, and we are really disappointed that they will not be there, because the idea was to fight against the champion.

"We have a great respect for what Ogier has done, but when you have a strategy and it fits with your DNA, we are used to promoting young drivers."

Matton added that he does not regret not giving Ogier a test, as he feels Citroen has proven it can build a competitive car.

"No, I don't regret it," said Matton. "It was not possible [to offer a test] when we spoke with him.

"I think our situation is maybe different, I think everybody believed that Citroen is able to make a car which is at the right level, and we are not in the position where we need to prove to Ogier that we are able to make a car.

"It was also not a question due to the fact that, from very early on, we told him that there is no possibility [of joining Citroen] for 2017, and then you also have a level of confidentiality on this kind of car. Everybody wants to keep their last secrets until the end."

Lefebvre and Breen to share second car initially

Matton revealed that Kris Meeke will be the team's only driver to have a full-time campaign as Lefebvre and Breen will share the other available C3 WRC for the first four rallies of the year.

"Kris will do the full championship," he confirmed, "and for Craig and Stephane, at the beginning of the season when we only have two cars, we will mix the drivers.

"Stephane will be part of Monte Carlo [in the new car], and after it will be Craig in Sweden, and we will do it like that for four rallies. After that we will have both Stephane and Craig be on each event."

Interview by Khodr Rawi