2011 Citroen DS3 WRC

Citroen has unveiled the DS3 WRC rally car at the Paris Auto Show. This new model will replace the C4 WRC in the 2011 World Rally Championship. Official debut will be made at the Rally Sweden in February 2011. There will be two teams entering the competition: Sébastien Loeb / Daniel Elena and Sébastien Ogier / Julien Ingrassia. As a reminder, Ford already announced its participation in this contest with the new Fiesta RS WRC.

The DS3 WRC is powered by a 1.6-liter direct-injection turbocharged engine that delivers 300 HP. It also features cooling vents and aerodynamic parts designed to improve road holding at high speeds. The four-wheel-drive transmission incorporates a six-gear sequential gearbox and front and rear mechanical differentials.

The new FIA rules ban costly materials such as titanium and carbon-fibre, and standardise 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.