Group N: Rally France: Red Bull preview

GASSNER JR AIMS FOR GROUP N TOP FIVE IN FRANCE

Red Bull-backed Hermann Gassner Jr has set his sights on landing a top five finish in the Group N category as he completed his final preparations for Rallye de France later this week.

The rising star from Germany will contest the all-new rally in the Alsace region of the country in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX, which is prepared by Raimund Baumschlager's BRR operation.

Like the bulk of his rivals on the three-day asphalt contest, Gassner Jr has no prior experience of the stages, which feature wide and narrow sections, mountain passes and constant surface variation.

"Just like in Germany I want to be in the top five in France and I really believe I can do this," said the 21-year-old, who will team up with regular co-driver Katharina Wuestenhagen on the Strasbourg-based rally. "Being so close to Germany I would like to think some of the stages will be similar although I really won't know what they will look like properly until I start my recce on Tuesday."

Gassner Jr prepared for the event with a test in Austria last week, which he said had been a success. "We already have a good set-up on Tarmac but we were able to confirm a few things during the test and this will be very useful when we start the rally."

So far in the World Rally Championship this season, Gassner Jr has taken part on one snow rally, one event on gravel and one on asphalt. Asked whether he had a preference, he commented: "I like driving on gravel but I am faster on Tarmac because most of the rallies in Germany are on Tarmac."

Rallye de France features 351.80 competitive kilometres over 20 special stages. Action gets underway at 0843hrs local time on Friday October 1 with the final stage around Haguenau town centre set to begin at 1336hrs on Sunday October 3.

-source: red bull