Citroën DS3 WRC
Citroën's turbocharged 1.6-litre World Rally Car from 2011.
The Citroën DS3 WRC was a World Rally Car developed by Citroën Racing for the Citroën World Rally Team, debuting in the 2011 World Rally Championship season. It was derived from the production Citroën DS3 and succeeded the highly successful Citroën C4 WRC. Designed to meet the new 2011 World Rally Car regulations—themselves based on the Super 2000 rules—it differed from Super 2000 cars by using a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine instead of a naturally aspirated 2-litre unit.
Development during 2010 involved Citroën drivers Sébastien Loeb, Dani Sordo, Sébastien Ogier, and test driver Philippe Bugalski, along with sister brand Peugeot’s Kris Meeke and Stéphane Sarrazin. The engine was purpose-built for this car (unlike earlier regulations that required the block and head gasket to come from a mass-produced engine), officially producing 220 kW at 6,000 rpm and 350 Nm at 3,250 rpm.
In October 2012, Citroën announced the DS3 RRC, intended for lower-tier championships such as WRC-2, the European Rally Championship, the Middle East Rally Championship, and various national series. Visually and mechanically, the two models differed due to stricter RRC regulations. The RRC’s 1.6-litre turbocharged direct-injection engine was detuned from 220 kW to 205 kW, its front bumper intakes were smaller, and its rear spoiler met S2000 standards. On tarmac, the brake disc diameter was reduced from 355 mm to 350 mm, and the water-cooling system was removed.
At the 2016 Rally Finland, Kris Meeke set a record for the fastest average speed in an FIA WRC round, averaging 126.60 km/h.
Quick Facts
- Car Name
- Citroën DS3 WRC
- Category
- World Rally Car
- Constructor
- Citroën Racing
- Designer
- Xavier Mestelan-Pinon
- Predecessor
- Citroën C4 WRC
- Successor
- Citroën C3 WRC
- Wrc
- yes
- Team
- FRA Citroën Total World Rally Team / FRA Citroën Junior Team / NOR Petter Solberg World Rally Team / QAT Qatar World Rally Team
- Chassis
- Reinforced body with welded, multi-point roll cage
- Suspension
- MacPherson type
- Length
- 3948 mm
- Wheelbase
- 2461 mm
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Development work on the Citroën DS3 WRC was carried out during 2010 by Citroën drivers Sébastien Loeb, Dani Sordo, Sébastien Ogier and test driver Philippe Bugalski, as well as sister Peugeot drivers Kris Meeke and Stéphane Sarrazin. The engine was specifically developed for this car, as older regulations required the engine to be based on an existing mass-produced engine's cylinder block and head gasket. It officially develops 220 kW at 6,000 rpm and 350 Nm at 3,250 rpm.
In October 2012, Citroën announced the DS3 RRC, intended for use in championships below the WRC such as WRC-2, the European Rally Championship, the Middle East Rally Championship, and some national championships. Visually and internally, the two models differ due to more restrictive regulations on the RRC. The WRC's 1.6-litre turbocharged direct-injection engine was slightly modified for the RRC, dropping power from 220 kW to 205 kW. The bumper intakes are smaller on the RRC, the rear spoiler complies with S2000 standards, and in tarmac configuration the brake disc diameter was reduced from 355 mm to 350 mm with the water-cooling system removed.
At the 2016 Rally Finland, Kris Meeke established a new record for the fastest FIA WRC round in history, with a 126.60 km/h average speed.
Reader's Guide
The Citroën DS3 WRC succeeded the highly successful Citroën C4 WRC and was built to the new 2011 World Rally Car regulations, which were based on Super 2000 rules but introduced a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine. This engine was specifically developed for the car, marking a departure from earlier regulations that required the engine to be based on a mass-produced unit. The car's development involved multiple drivers from both Citroën and sister brand Peugeot during 2010. A notable variant, the DS3 RRC, was announced in October 2012 for lower-tier championships, featuring reduced power, smaller bumper intakes, a different rear spoiler, and smaller brake discs without water cooling. The DS3 WRC achieved a significant milestone at the 2016 Rally Finland when Kris Meeke set the fastest average speed for an FIA WRC round at 126.60 km/h. The car's legacy is tied to its role in transitioning the sport to the 1.6-litre turbo era and its continued presence in various rally championships through the RRC variant.
Did You Know?
- The DS3 WRC replaced the highly successful Citroën C4 WRC.
- Its engine was specifically developed for this car, not based on a mass-produced unit.
- The DS3 RRC variant has a reduced power output of 205 kW compared to the WRC's 220 kW.
- Kris Meeke set a record fastest FIA WRC round average speed of 126.60 km/h in the DS3 WRC at the 2016 Rally Finland.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Citroën DS3 WRC?
It is a World Rally Car built by Citroën Racing for the factory Citroën World Rally Team, making its competitive debut in the 2011 WRC season. The car was developed from the production DS3 road model to comply with the new 2011 WRC regulations.
What engine does the Citroën DS3 WRC use and how much power does it make?
It is powered by a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine producing 220 kW at 6,000 rpm and 350 Nm of torque at 3,250 rpm. This turbocharged 1.6 formula was the defining difference from the older Super 2000 cars, which relied on naturally aspirated 2-litre units.
What car did the Citroën DS3 WRC replace?
It succeeded the Citroën C4 WRC, a car that had delivered strong results for the team in prior seasons. The change was necessitated by the 2011 regulatory overhaul that mandated the new 1.6 turbocharged specification.
Which drivers were involved with the Citroën DS3 WRC?
During its 2010 development and testing phase, the car was driven by Sébastien Loeb, Dani Sordo, Sébastien Ogier, and test driver Philippe Bugalski. In competition from 2011 onward, it was run by the Citroën World Rally Team's factory lineup.
Why is the Citroën DS3 WRC considered an important car in rally history?
It was among the first cars designed specifically to the 2011 WRC rules, which moved the sport to a 1.6-litre turbocharged formula. Its introduction marked the end of the long-running naturally aspirated 2-litre era and set the technical template that WRC cars followed for years afterward.
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