With five manufacturers championships in five years, it's clear that Citroen knows how to put a rally-winning car together. The latest, the R3, is based on Citroen's chic new supermini,
the DS3, and will be offered in kit and competition-ready variants.
Closely related to the road car's engine, the rally variant develops 258lb.ft of torque and 210bhp from its four-cylinder, 1.6-litre, turbocharged engine. The R3 features improved air-intake and exhaust systems, combined with race-spec pistons, camshaft and ECU; the intake and exhaust manifolds, turbocharger, injectors and injection pumps are identical to the standard car's.
The engine is mated to a six-speed, electronically controlled, semi-automatic gearbox with twin-disc clutch, which Citroen claims to allow the driver to change gear twice as quickly as a traditional manual. The suspension and chassis have also been adapted for rally use, the car's front sub-frame being modified so tubular wishbones can be fitted, while the axle is lighter than the production car's equivalent. The rear cross member has been reinforced too, allowing fitment of a rear-anti roll bar. The R3 also gets improved brakes, with two master cylinders powering four-pot callipers up front, with two pots at the rear.
Being a rally car, the R3 also comes with a full FIA-spec multi-point roll-cage, while the battery and automatic fire extinguisher are located behind the driver. A steel skid plate protects the car's underbelly, while also lowering its centre of gravity.
Although Citroen has yet to confirm any prices, the tarmac racing kit, designed for assembly on a DS3 THP 150, comprises 500 parts and includes a reinforced body shell, race engine and gearbox and will be available from the company's motorsport division, Citroen Racing.
Adam Sloman - 5 Jul 2010