It's The End Of A(nother) Rally Era

Video and pic tributes as Ford and Citroen bid farewell to their WRC machines

By Chris-R / Tuesday, 30 November 2010 / Loading comments

Focus WRC bites the dust. (Geddit?)

The Ford PR machine has released a compilation of video highlights to mark the exit of the Focus from WRC competition, while Citroen has contented itself with digging out some library pics to celebrate the end of the C4 WRC's era.

Next season it will be all eyes on the new DS3 WRC for Citroen's rally fans, while Ford's bobble hat brigade will be cheering on the Fiesta.

Here's the link to Ford's tribute flick on the company's YouTube channel, while Citroen's pictorial tribute is shared below. Hankies at the ready chaps...

Unveiling at Paris Motorshow, 2006 The C4 WRC was first seen at the Paris Motor Show in 2006 when Citroën were planning to re-enter the WRC as a Works manufacturer team. The C4 WRC was slated to replace Citroën’s Xsara WRC, which had already won a strong set of victories in the hands of Colin McRae, Carlos Sainz and Sébastien Loeb. A tough act to follow.
First outing at Monte Carlo, 2007 Blasting onto the world stage with a One-two finish straight out of the box, the C4 WRC dominated on the hills of Monte-Carlo with Sébastien Loeb behind the wheel. The victory was the first of eight during the 2007 season, securing Loeb the WRC drivers title and setting the benchmark that all other teams would have to beat over the course of the next four seasons.
Victory at Rally GB 2007 seals drivers title for Loeb Flying through the stages of the Welsh forests, Loeb took an emphatic victory to win the drivers title in 2007 at the final round. The C4 WRC showed its quality on the slippery conditions.
Argentina 2008 Causing a splash on the Argentinean stages, Loeb set about retaining his drivers crown in 2008 and also aimed to deliver a constructors crown to the team with the support of team mate Dani Sordo in the sister C4 WRC. The car’s adaptability to different conditions proved to be one of its key assets during the campaign. The 2008 season gave Citroën its first manufacturer title with the C4 WRC.
Norway 2009 The Norwegian stages are some of the toughest in the world but the C4 WRC provided Loeb with a worthy competitor to take on the Scandinavian drivers who thrive in the wintery conditions. Here’s Loeb attacking the turns in 2009.
Citroën tries out Hybrid Technology During April of the championship-winning 2009 season, Citroën revealed a hybrid version of the C4 WRC. Dani Sordo was in the driving seat, setting some impressive times for a dedicated test program in Portugal.
Triple podium in Portugal 2010 A maiden win for rookie Sébastien Ogier with Loeb, Sordo and Solberg in toe gave the C4 WRC a one-two-three-four finish in Portugal 2010. The feat again demonstrated the car’s dominance on tarmac events. The C4 was undefeated at tarmac-based events during its four year stint in the WRC.
Turkey record-breaking jump Rallying is all about thrills, spills and ‘big air’ and Rally Turkey was no exception. Here, Sébastien Loeb takes his C4 on a gravity-defying leap on the Ballica stage on his way to another victory.
Home victory and a Championship for Citroën and Loeb The French Rally was where Citroën and Loeb secured their driver and manufacturers titles for 2010. It was an added bonus that it was home soil for both team and driver, with the fans flocking to see them cross the finish line and enter racing history books.
A swansong in Wales 2010 With both the drivers and manufacturers titles wrapped up at the previous event in France, the C4 WRC had its final outing in a competitive event, and achieved a final victory to end a four year reign at the top of the championship tables.