Citroen DS3 R3 - The new standard
In addition to Citroen Racing’s official participation in WRC, where it has won five FIA World Championship Constructors’ titles, Citroen Racing has always offered products designed for customers. The champion team has now furthered this rich tradition with Citroen DS3 R3, a model set to make its rallying debut at the end of 2010. Versatile, high performance and yet affordably-priced, DS3 R3 is set to become the new leader in its category.
Based on the FIA’s new Group R3T regulations, DS3 R3 features the same structural design and appearance as the production model, with the production steel body shell reinforced by a welded, multi-point roll cage, improving the resilience of the chassis and safety for the driver pairing.
Under the bonnet lies a four-cylinder 1.6-litre THP (high pressure turbo) engine, which has been developed using the PSA production engine. Specific racing parts (air box, camshaft, pistons, connecting rods, exhaust and turbo systems, electronic unit, etc.) have been deployed to boost the car’s power to 210bhp. In addition to its overall power, special attention has been given to increasing the engine’s torque to improve traction, one of the key factors in delivering efficient driving performance. With 350Nm, the DS3 R3 engine offers unrivalled flexibility on the road.
DS3 R3 has benefitted from the extensive expertise acquired by Citroen Racing through its involvement in the World Rally Championship. As with the C4 WRC, the six-speed gearbox features semi-automatic sequential control, enabling gear changes to be made twice as quickly as with a manual gearbox, whilst also improving the reliability of the car’s powertrain.
The suspension system uses the very latest technologies and has been designed for all road surfaces, from rough gravel to smooth tarmac. A wide variety of setup options are available, allowing DS3 R3 to be adapted to all driving styles. Citroen Racing recommends the use of BFGoodrich tyres.
Built using production-derived components and specific racing parts, DS3 R3 is available at an affordable price and will be marketed by Citroen Racing in kit and ready-to-race versions.
