Citroen is unleashing an all-new contender for the 2011 World Rally Championship - the Citroen DS3 WRC.
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2011 Citroem DS3 WRC For Loeb - Web Exclusive
The highly anticipated replacement for the multi-championship winning Citroen C4 WRC will make its public debut at the 2010 Paris Auto Show.
Aggressive, dynamic and packed with 'Creative Technologie', the DS3 WRC represents the efforts of Citroen Racing to push performance to the limit during its development, while complying with the new FIA regulations.
After five WRC manufacturer's and six consecutive driver's titles for Sebastien Loeb and Daniel Elena, Citroen is out to extend its run of success with the DS3 WRC.
More compact than its predecessor, the Citroen DS3 WRC boasts the same powerful lines as the production DS3, although they are emphasized by the cooling vents and aerodynamic parts designed to improve road holding at high speeds.
Under the hood, the 300hp 1.6-liter direct-injection turbocharged engine was conceived by Citroen Racing. The four-wheel-drive transmission incorporates a six-gear sequential gearbox with front and rear mechanical differentials.
DS3 WRC is designed to limit the budgets required to compete in the WRC. The new FIA rules ban costly materials such as titanium and carbon-fiber, and standardize certain parts like the turbocharger and limit the changes that can be made to the vehicle during its lifetime. Rally nevertheless remains a great testing ground for driving new advances in vehicle technology.
The icy stages of Rally Sweden in February 2011 are expected to give the model its first taste of competitive action. Two teams - Sebastien Loeb / Daniel Elena and Sebastien Ogier / Julien Ingrassia - have already been confirmed for the 2011 World Rally Championship.
