SEAT Córdoba WRC
SEAT's World Rally Car debuted in 1998 and earned podiums globally.
The SEAT Córdoba WRC is a World Rally Car built for the World Rally Championship, based on the SEAT Córdoba road car. It first appeared at the 1998 Rally Finland. The car served as SEAT’s official entry in the championship from its debut until the end of the 2000 season. It was powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine and was homologated as a World Rally Car version of the Córdoba 16v, allowing it to compete in the top category of the FIA World Rally Championship and other international rallies. Drivers of the factory cars included 1994 World Drivers’ Champion Didier Auriol of France, as well as Finns Toni Gardemeister and Harri Rovanperä. The Córdoba WRC earned podium finishes at the 1999 Rally New Zealand (driven by Gardemeister), the 1999 Rally GB (driven by Rovanperä), and the 2000 Safari Rally (driven by Auriol). The factory programme ended after the 2000 season, by which time the car had reached its third evolution. Even after the works team withdrew, the Córdoba WRC continued to achieve success in national championships. In Spain, it won the national gravel rally title with Pedro Diego and Marc Blázquez, and also claimed victories on tarmac rallies with Salvador Cañellas Jr.
Quick Facts
- Car Name
- SEAT Córdoba WRC
- Category
- World Rally Car
- Constructor
- SEAT
- Wrc
- yes
- Team
- ESP SEAT World Rally Team
- Drivers
- FRA Didier Auriol · GBR Gwyndaf Evans · FIN Toni Gardemeister · FIN Marcus Grönholm · ITA Piero Liatti · FIN Harri Rovanperä · ESP Daniel Solà
- Length
- 4135 mm (debut) · 4172 mm (upgrade)
- Height
- 1500 mm
- Wheelbase
- 2443 mm
- Track
- 1520 mm
- Capacity
- 1995 cc
- Configuration
- I4
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Córdoba WRC was SEAT's official rally car in the World Rally Championship from its debut until the end of the 2000 season. It featured a 2.0 litre turbocharged engine and competed in the top category of the championship, as SEAT had homologated a World Rally Car version of the Córdoba 16v for competition in the FIA World Rally Championship and other international rallies. 1994 World Drivers' Champion Didier Auriol, of France, and Toni Gardemeister and Harri Rovanperä, both of Finland, were among those to drive the factory cars. The car made its debut at the 1998 Rally Finland, with Harri Rovanperä as the main driver. It achieved podiums at the 1999 Rally New Zealand, driven by Toni Gardemeister, the 1999 Rally GB, driven by Rovanperä, as well as in the 2000 Safari Rally, driven by Didier Auriol. The works programme concluded at the end of the season of 2000, with the third evolution of the rally car.
Reader's Guide
The Córdoba WRC marked SEAT's entry into the top category of the World Rally Championship, competing with a 2.0 litre turbocharged engine and a homologated World Rally Car version of the Córdoba 16v. Its debut at the 1998 Rally Finland with Harri Rovanperä began a three-season works programme that yielded podiums on three continents: New Zealand, Great Britain, and the Safari Rally. Drivers included a former World Champion, Didier Auriol, alongside Finnish talents Gardemeister and Rovanperä. After the works programme ended at the close of 2000 with the third evolution of the car, the Córdoba WRC continued to compete with successful results in national championships in different countries. In Spain, it won the national title of all the rallies on gravel with Pedro Diego and Marc Blázquez, and wins in tarmac rallies with Salvador Cañellas Jr. The car thus extended its competitive life beyond the world stage, proving effective in both gravel and tarmac national events.
Did You Know?
- The Córdoba WRC debuted at the 1998 Rally Finland.
- It achieved podiums at the 1999 Rally New Zealand, 1999 Rally GB, and 2000 Safari Rally.
- 1994 World Drivers' Champion Didier Auriol drove the factory car.
- The works programme ended after the 2000 season with the third evolution.
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