RE: New Citroen C3 WRC car
Sunday 25th September 2016
Now officially the car you see here is a Citroen rally concept, but it would be very surprising to see the final car look much different to this. Indeed Citroen states that this is "very close [to] the finalised car". And, well, it looks pretty interesting from here.
New Citroen C3 WRC car
"Ultra-sporty, brawny, and chiselled" C3 welcomes in rallying's wilder new look
So what do we have? As was hinted at in the testing images, this C3 is a far more aggressive WRC car than ever before fielded by Citroen. The width is up to 1,875mm, power is up to around 380hp and the spoilers are noticeably more extreme. The new WRC regulations also allow for electronic differential control. Citroen describes the look as "muscular and chiselled", but don't think this is completely removed from the production car. See those wing mirrors? They're carbon and painted yellow "to echo one of the colours available for the New Citroen C3." Right...
Citroen is of course no stranger to rallying success, having won 96 WRC events in total. The C3's campaign to continue that begins at Monte Carlo in January, where it will of course be joined by a new Toyota Yaris WRC also. Expect a full spec and driver line-up (could Loeb race for Citroen on stage and circuit simultaneously?) before then - but will you be watching the updated World Rally Championship?
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Discussion
Loved WRC in the era of Colin M, but haven't really been very interested lately. Seems like the cars lately have been low spec snot boxes; at least, that's what it looks like to someone who has completely lost interest.
I would love to see some group A type machines back in action. Surely the whole global financial crisis is behind us now, and manufacturers have a motorsport budget they can spend on building halo products to sell their cooking models. Why not return to the group A days of old? If it was a case of escalating spending, this could be reigned in (Group N, for example, instead).
But this creation just doesnt interest me. Its probably something far removed from what you can buy, unlike the group A / N cars that were easily available at the time.
I would love to see some group A type machines back in action. Surely the whole global financial crisis is behind us now, and manufacturers have a motorsport budget they can spend on building halo products to sell their cooking models. Why not return to the group A days of old? If it was a case of escalating spending, this could be reigned in (Group N, for example, instead).
But this creation just doesnt interest me. Its probably something far removed from what you can buy, unlike the group A / N cars that were easily available at the time.
DemonDriverDan said:
Just a note that Loeb doesn't race for Citroen on the circuit any more after they cut back their WTCC programme so he can't race for them on road and track simultaneously! 
Doesn't look as mean / lairy as I was expecting, still looks good though.
Exactly, Loeb is no longer a Citroen driver - they dropped him. Peugeot picked him up for their Dakar/ X-Country World Cup (& World RX)programmes. Yes, so they are both PSA, but I don't expect to see him in a Citroen C3 WRCar. That car has been built around Kris Meeke.Doesn't look as mean / lairy as I was expecting, still looks good though.
As for the cars; well they have much more power - but with more downforce and active diffs, etc Anybody expecting dramatic sideways action is going to be disappointed. If anything, they're going to be even more efficient - and that means 'cars on rails'.
Homologation is the key and why there's a lot of interest in these cars.
You still see the odd Impreza Turbo 2000 knocking about.
This is an instantly forgettable car because chances are the closest thing Joe Public get to experience is a very average little shopping car with no semblance to the car you see here. The most powerful available road car (I can see) is a 3-cylinder 82Kw capable of a 9.6s 0-60. WOW. I can see the crop of Corsa VXR / Fiesta ST owners queuing up for that.
You still see the odd Impreza Turbo 2000 knocking about.
This is an instantly forgettable car because chances are the closest thing Joe Public get to experience is a very average little shopping car with no semblance to the car you see here. The most powerful available road car (I can see) is a 3-cylinder 82Kw capable of a 9.6s 0-60. WOW. I can see the crop of Corsa VXR / Fiesta ST owners queuing up for that.
I think these companies enter rallying to develop technology for themselves and to test the cars. Its much less an exercise to sell particular Halo models. As the other posters here point out Citroen dont make a powerful C3. They didnt make a powerful C4 either, the Leob version had a diesel engine in it. Ford make high powered fiesta's but even they are not in the WRC as a full factory effort. Subaru did enter and did very well out of it as did Mitsubishi but it appears those days are gone, save for the Polo R WRC that you can buy here in Switzerland.
I think people were expecting Group B reborn with these new regulations. I doubt we will see that to be honest. As one other Poster pointed out these cars will be even more efficient and handle like they are on rails.
Back when I started watching rallying in the mid to late 90's it was on the BBC and the computers games were selling it as sport to the Playstation generation. I also recall the WRC/Group A cars being on the BBC quite regularly. Nowadays you get an hour on ITV and something on BT sport 3. To me that is not the FIA selling the sport enough. There are no more big personalities either. And yet the makers enter it, investing millions in the process. I can only think its for their own prestiage and technical development.
I think people were expecting Group B reborn with these new regulations. I doubt we will see that to be honest. As one other Poster pointed out these cars will be even more efficient and handle like they are on rails.
Back when I started watching rallying in the mid to late 90's it was on the BBC and the computers games were selling it as sport to the Playstation generation. I also recall the WRC/Group A cars being on the BBC quite regularly. Nowadays you get an hour on ITV and something on BT sport 3. To me that is not the FIA selling the sport enough. There are no more big personalities either. And yet the makers enter it, investing millions in the process. I can only think its for their own prestiage and technical development.
Saw some videos of this new C3 testing on tarmac the other day and while they might not have all the raw excitement of eras gone by they look really bloody fast - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FOFBvyauLU
Hasn't WRC been down this road before? Wasn't the switch from the 2.0 litre to 1.6 litre engines, manual gearboxes etc all meant to reign in the excess cost and attract more manufacturers/spectators.
And now, it looks like it is all back where it was a few years ago. Cars so far removed from anything that you can buy from the manufacturers, that you might as well make it a silhouette category
And now, it looks like it is all back where it was a few years ago. Cars so far removed from anything that you can buy from the manufacturers, that you might as well make it a silhouette category
Although it looks better and WRC have really upped their game in terms of photos videos and telemetry during races, I still hanker after cars that are a bit less ordinary.
Much as I like the Polo, a Megane with a V6 behind the front seats, Golf 500BHP concept, Audi RS4, Fiat 500 V6, Volvo XC90 Polestar with a truck engine. Just something less mundane but perhaps not as insane at the Group B cars would brighten up WRC.
Much as I like the Polo, a Megane with a V6 behind the front seats, Golf 500BHP concept, Audi RS4, Fiat 500 V6, Volvo XC90 Polestar with a truck engine. Just something less mundane but perhaps not as insane at the Group B cars would brighten up WRC.
Alex Langheck said:
DemonDriverDan said:
Just a note that Loeb doesn't race for Citroen on the circuit any more after they cut back their WTCC programme so he can't race for them on road and track simultaneously!
Exactly, Loeb is no longer a Citroen driver - they dropped him. Peugeot picked him up for their Dakar/ X-Country World Cup (& World RX)programmes. Yes, so they are both PSA, but I don't expect to see him in a Citroen C3 WRCar. That car has been built around Kris Meeke.It would be great to think Meeke could string enough solid results together to make a WRC title bid next season! Winning Rally Finland this year was a remarkable and almost ignored achievement!
M.
rwindmill said:
Hasn't WRC been down this road before? Wasn't the switch from the 2.0 litre to 1.6 litre engines, manual gearboxes etc all meant to reign in the excess cost and attract more manufacturers/spectators.
And now, it looks like it is all back where it was a few years ago. Cars so far removed from anything that you can buy from the manufacturers, that you might as well make it a silhouette category
Exactly!! 2011 was the dawn of a new era. Except it wasn't; they keep repeating the same mistakes and expect a different result. WRC needs a overhaul/ revolution.....And now, it looks like it is all back where it was a few years ago. Cars so far removed from anything that you can buy from the manufacturers, that you might as well make it a silhouette category
Screechmr2 said:
until the manufacturers produce performance models of the competing cars i don't think the interest will return. Citroen don't make anything of note performance wise. Toyota rallying a yaris? yet the fastest yaris they sell has the performance of a milk float
Totally agree the manufacturers just don't seem interested in production of anything close to the WRC cars nowadays, probably not enough profit margin in it for the accountants.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff