For the 2017 season, the Citroen Total Abu Dhabi WRT
will feature between two and four C3 WRC cars for its crews, made up of the
following pairings: Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle, Craig Breen/Scott Martin, Stéphane
Lefebvre/Gabin Moreau and Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi/Chris Patterson.
The 2017 FIA World Rally Championship will
officially get under way at Rallye Monte Carlo in one month from now, where the
all-new C3 WRC will put its improved efficiency, dramatic technological changes
and substantial aero features to the test.
The centerpiece of the C3 WRC's
aerodynamic performance is the bumper which incorporates a splitter and
winglets, generating downforce and reducing understeer. On the side, air vents
are used to cool the brakes and similar to the front, hot air is expelled using
the bottom of the wings.
As for the rear bumper, it's been carefully designed
to increase the expulsion of gravel and snow on loose surfaces. The rear
diffuser of course provides even more downforce by expelling the airflow that
passes under the car.
In terms of performance, the car boasts a 3.1 kg/bhp
ratio, which is a solid improvement over its predecessor's 3.8 kg/bhp rating.
Furthermore, its got wider wings and a centrally controlled differential for
the four-wheel drive system. Overall power output is 380 BHP, though
with the turbo pressure being set at 2.5 bars, torque output will remain
relatively stable at about 400 Nm.
The new C3 WRC weighs in at 1,190 kg,
though with the crew on board it will get up to 1,350 kg, as per
regulations. With an overall width of 1,875 mm, it's about as
wide as an Audi A6. Citroen's objective next year will be to win races
in normal conditions and "bring home at least one world title" in
2018.
