Former World Rally Championship driver Sean Johnston is causing a stir in the rally world as he sets his sights on bringing a Citroën C3 Rally2 car to the US for a round of the ARA National Championship. Fresh off a victory at the Olympus Rally driving a Peugeot 208 Rally4, Johnston is hungry for more success on American soil.
In an exclusive interview with DirtFish, Johnston expressed his ambitious plans, stating, “We have enough money to come back here for another round. It’s most likely this is going to be Tennessee (Overmountain Rally, September 20/21). Ideally, I would like to find a way to persuade Stellantis to bring a Citroën C3 Rally2 out here. It’s a matter of figuring that equation out – we’re working on it.”
When questioned about his chances against defending champion Brandon Semenuk’s Open class Subaru WRX ARA25, Johnston remained confident but cautious, saying, “It’s tough. I think it depends on the profile of the stage. It depends on the conditions. Maybe the Subarus are just a next step above… Yeah, they’re absolutely amazing rally cars. And so are Rally2 [cars], just not to the same extent.”
If Johnston’s plan to bring the Rally2 car to the US doesn’t materialize, he looks forward to returning to Johnson City, Tennessee, where he clinched a podium finish last year with a Ford Fiesta Rally3. Reflecting on his recent success, Johnston shared, “It’s just great to be rallying in America again. The 208 was probably the most fun and rewarding front-wheel drive car I’ve used.”
The rally community is abuzz with anticipation as Johnston gears up for his next challenge, following in the footsteps of other notable drivers like Calle Carlberg. Stay tuned for more thrilling updates from the high-octane world of rally racing.
