Citroën C3 WRC

Lore & Background

Citroën formally announced its intentions to withdraw from full-time competition at the end of the 2015 season in order to focus on the development of the C3 WRC. During the 2016 season, the team contested selected events using the DS3 WRC as a testing platform for selected parts. Further testing and development was carried out using the Citroën C-Elysée WTCC, the car used by Citroën in the World Touring Car Championship. The C3 WRC's début in 2017 coincided with the widespread revisions to the sport's technical regulations.

Reader's Guide

The Citroën C3 WRC marked a strategic shift for the Citroën World Rally Team, which withdrew from full-time competition at the end of 2015 to concentrate on developing this car. The team used the 2016 season as a testing period, running the DS3 WRC at selected events to trial components, and also leveraged the Citroën C-Elysée WTCC from the World Touring Car Championship for further development. The car entered the World Rally Championship at the start of 2017, a season that saw widespread changes to the technical regulations. Its début drivers were Craig Breen, Stéphane Lefebvre and Kris Meeke, with Khalid Al Qassimi joining for selected events. The C3 WRC thus represented Citroën's return to full-time competition after a one-year hiatus, built on lessons learned from both its predecessor and its touring car programme.

Did You Know?

• The C3 WRC replaced the successful Citroën DS3 WRC.
• Development included testing with the Citroën C-Elysée WTCC.
• Khalid Al Qassimi drove a fourth car at selected events.