Citroën DS3 WRC

DS3 WRC at the Paris Motor Show

The Citroën DS3 WRC was officially launched on January 24, 2011 in Paris. This World Rally Car built Citroën Racing to participate with the Citroën World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship in 2011. It is based on the Citroën DS3 Series vehicle and is scheduled to succeed the Citroën C4 WRC.

After nine rallies of the DS3 scored eight consecutive wins in the World Rally Championship in 2011 and the Citroën factory team led the Manufacturer World Championship with 91 points ahead. The victory at the Rally Germany 2011 Citroën became the most successful team in the history of the World Rally Championship. After Loeb's victory in the Rally of Catalonia in 2011 the team won the team championship standings ahead of schedule. Sebastien Loeb won his eighth World Cup with this vehicle title.

The first time in 2012 Loeb won the DS3 WRC Monte Carlo Rally with 2 minutes 45 seconds ahead. For mid-season Loeb won five victories in a row. From the, the ninth of thirteen World Championship races discharged, Wales Rally GB was clear that only a DS3 WRC driver was able to get the drivers' championship title. After Loeb's victory in the Rally of France, the team the team championship standings and Loeb won his ninth world title prematurely.

• 5.1 Factory Team
• 5.2 PH Sport

Development

After the withdrawal of many manufacturers from the highest class of rallying - last Subaru and Suzuki from the World Cup season 2009 - saw the FIA forced to act. Only Ford and Citroën were active as a vehicle manufacturer in the World Rally Championship WRC race car. It began a noticeable decline in the public interest, not least because of by some fans perceived as monotonous seven world titles profits - Citroën factory driver Sébastien Loeb - in a row and the associated six brands world title of the Citroën Total World Rally Team. The FIA ​​undertook efforts to move new car manufacturers for entry into the WRC. However, these were answered negatively for cost reasons and having regard to the global economic crisis.

The FIA ​​and the related negotiations manufacturers came to the conclusion that a new and far-reaching WRC regulations should be introduced in order to reduce costs. So also the entry of new brands could be more attractive, because all participants would equally develop new vehicles. Likewise, privateers could easily finance the participation in the events and the sponsors would be relieved. Since 2011, therefore, the World Rally Cars are also based on the well known Super 2000 regulations, but with 1600 cc engines with direct fuel injection and turbocharging and an additional aerodynamic package. These vehicles are much closer to the standard models than its predecessors. The inside of the S2000 and WRC is almost identical. For the first WRC a S2000 ( Kl -A2 ) vehicle must be homologated, which is then upgraded to a WRC ( Kl - A0). Development of the vehicle began under the direction of Citroen technical director Xavier Mestelan - Pinon during the year 2010 by Citroën drivers Sébastien Loeb, Sébastien Ogier, Dani Sordo and the test driver Philippe Bugalski and Group due Peugeot drivers Kris Meeke and the former Formula 1 driver Stéphane Sarrazin. After the end of the development work Dani Sordo and Kris Meeke changed with the end of season 2010 for WRC competitors Mini, the 2011 takes part in the World Rally Championship with the Mini WRC from Rally Sardinia.

Technology

The increased additionally stiffened with a welded in the passenger compartment safety cell made ​​of steel tubes body based on the DS3 from the series production. However, these are heavily modified by Citroën Racing. This WRC class -0- vehicles are equipped with a safety package, which consists of special seats, belts, fuel tank, emergency stop switch ( inside / outside), fire - extinguishing system is etc..

The race car has the FIA regulations of Group A and shall be equipped with an additional kit Super 2000. The standard vehicle has to be produced at least 2,500 times in identical units. Electronic driver aids such as ABS and ESP are not admitted. The four-wheel vehicle has MacPherson struts with adjustable suspension and damping on the front and rear axle.

The four-cylinder 16V - series petrol engine of the DS3 WRC has direct fuel injection and turbocharging, the charge pressure must not exceed 2.5 bar and the speed must be limited to 8500 rpm according to the rules. Using 33 - mm air restrictors, the engine power is reduced to about 300 officially PS/224 kW. This power is at 6000 rpm available. The maximum torque of 350 Nm achieved at the engine 3250/min. The race car is designed as a two-seater for pilot and co- pilot. The DS3 WRC will be equipped in the World Cup season 2011 according to the contract with Michelin tires.

Achievements

2011

• Overall victory in the Rally Mexico 2011 by Sébastien Loeb.
• Double victory in the Rally of Portugal 2011 by Sébastien Ogier and Sébastien Loeb.
• Overall victory in the Jordan Rally 2011 by Sébastien Ogier and Sébastien Loeb for third place.
• Overall victory in the Rally Sardinia 2011 by Sébastien Loeb and third place for Petter Solberg.
• Overall victory at the Rally Argentina 2011 by Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Ogier and third place for.
• Double victory in the Rally of Greece 2011 by Sébastien Ogier and Sébastien Loeb.
• Overall victory at the Rally Finland 2011 by Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Ogier and third place for.
• Double victory at the Rally Germany 2011 by Sébastien Ogier and Sébastien Loeb.
• Overall victory in the Rally of France in 2011 by Sébastien Ogier.
• Overall victory in the Rally of Catalonia in 2011 by Sébastien Loeb.

2012

• Overall victory in the Rally Monte Carlo 2012 by Sébastien Loeb.
• Double victory at the Rally Mexico 2012 by Sébastien Loeb and Mikko Hirvonen.
• Double victory at the Rally Argentina 2012 by Sébastien Loeb and Mikko Hirvonen.
• Double victory in the Rally of Greece 2012 by Sébastien Loeb and Mikko Hirvonen.
• Double victory at Rally New Zealand in 2012 by Sébastien Loeb and Mikko Hirvonen.
• Double victory at the Rally Finland 2012 by Sébastien Loeb and Mikko Hirvonen.
• Overall victory in the Rally of Germany in 2012 by Sébastien Loeb and Mikko Hirvonen for third place.
• With the second place in the Rally of Great Britain, by Sébastien Loeb, it was clear that only a driver of the Citroën Total World Rally Team was able to win the drivers' world championship titles.
• Overall victory in the Rally of France in 2012 by Sébastien Loeb and Mikko Hirvonen for third place.
• Overall victory in the Rally Sardinia 2012 by Mikko Hirvonen.

Teams and Drivers 2011

During the two French factory driver Sébastien Loeb and Sébastien Ogier Citroën are paid to represent the brand, there are also drivers who pay to participate in a Citroën DS3 WRC in the World Rally Championship. The world rally champion of the 2003 season, Petter Solberg, starts at every round of the 2011 season in his own team. In the Sardinia Rally, the Rally Australia and Rally France he managed a third place respectively. A few hours after the rally Petter Solberg was excluded from the event and denied him his third rank. The reason was that his car was found in the subsequent weigh-in than four kilogram to light. Therefore, all drivers moved from fourth place to a position forward.

He is the only private person, can still keep up with the work of driving and ranks fifth in the world championship.

The former Formula 1 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen founded in 2011 to be ONE ICE Racing WRT to participate in ten scheduled rounds of the World Rally Championship in 2011. Räikkönen scored 2011 in all six WRC rallies previously disputed points was after the ninth round in eighth place in the drivers' championship and the fifth place in the team standings. These points were, however, his team denied by decision of 9 September by the FIA and it was taken out of the World Cup team standings. The reason for this, and an additional fine of 16,200 euros was that he had not, as planned, participated in the Rally Australia. The regulations prescribe for a team that is enrolled for brand championship points, at least two races outside Europe before. Raikkonen had called for the Jordan Rally and the Rally Australia, but had waived the participation in Australia. Raikkonen is eligible to start for the remaining three rounds of the World Rally Championship as before.

In the Dutch team Van Merksteijn Motorsport Peter van Merksteijn Jr. and his father and team owner Peter van Merksteijn sr starts. in some selected rounds of the World Cup season.

Teams and drivers 2012

Works team

The Citroën Total World Rally Team will start again this season with the series champion Sébastien Loeb Citroën DS3 WRC at the wheel of. In November 2011 it was announced that Ogier's contract was terminated. For the 2012 season, Citroën undertook the long-standing Ford works driver Mikko Hirvonen as the new No. 2 driver alongside Loeb. Citroen team principal Olivier Quesnel announced that from the Rally Sweden is gone with three DS3 WRC at the start. Nasser Al- Attiyah will first take part in the Dakar Rally in order to subsequently deny 12 rounds of the World Rally Championship.

PH Sport

The former promoter of Loeb and Dominique Heintz and Bernard Piallat, from the use of PH Sport team start from the Monte Carlo Rally with two DS3 WRC in the World Rally Championship. 2012 will be given to the Belgian Thierry Neuville -coming talent a chance to prove themselves in the World Rally Championship. Yet his vehicle will call Junior under the team name Citroën team. Planned are nine to ten start; in New Zealand, no attendance is provided on successful application receives Neuville additional option also to the World Rally Championship races in Italy and Spain to go to the start. It is planned irregularly and alternately use as a second driver for the team, the Dutchman Peter van Merksteijn senior and Peter van Merksteijn junior. Their DS3 will then appear as Van Merksteijn Motorsport in the entry list.