Sitting in the co-pilot's seat of a Citroen DS3 WRC3 racer as three-time British Rally Champion Keith Cronin sped and bounced through a rally course built at the track is one of those experiences worth doing ... but not every morning, thanks.
It certainly brought me up close and personal with the exhilarating skills of someone like Cork-based Keith, who was there to show staff members of Citroen's dealerships just what one of their brand products could do.
About 100 of those staff people came to Mondello over the two days as part of a 'Podium' customer experience training programme run by Citroen Ireland. There's no doubt that they'll be very much more passionate about their products to customers in their showrooms from this week on.
Keith is strongly tipped to win the current Citroen Top Driver competition in the WRC3, which will see the victor get a full-time Citroen works drive in six rounds of WRC next season in a DS3 R5, with the possibility of winning up to €700,000.
It's an all or nothing gig, though ... the guys coming in second and later get nothing.
