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2007 Citroen C4 WRC news, pictures, and information | ||
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The Citroën C4 WRC — Citroën Sport's new weapon — will be premiered on 5 September. Before making its debut in the World Rally Championship (WRC) from 2007, it is set to be one of the main attractions at the 2006 Paris Motor Show (28 September – 15 October).
The C4 Citroën Sport concept car was a vehicle symbolising the renewal of the Marque. It was the result of cooperation between engineers from the styling and sports departments. In the first instance, the project completely disregarded regulatory requirements. A true exercise in style, it met the challenge of developing a futuristic vision of a new car. A car to replace the Xsara WRC, winner of three world 'manufacturers' crowns between 2003 and 2005. In the expert hands of Citroën Sport's engineers at Versailles Satory, the C4 Citroën Sport concept car became the C4 WRC.
Adapting to regulations
Although the overall styling was maintained, the car had to be adapted to international regulations and performance requirements. This is where the design office of Citroën Sport stepped in. The project working group came up wîth a first rolling model of the Citroën C4 WRC that was already a long way from the original concept. The roof, for example, was no longer made of glass, since this is banned in rally racing. The front and rear wings, bumpers and spoiler were modified to satisfy regulations and performance criteria. To save time and money, a number of body parts were studied in wind tunnels on a scale of ¼ before validation of the full-size parts at the end of the project.
The main lines of the development programme
The role of the development programme was to validate the parts and powertrain sub-systems developed by the design office. Reliability was the first factor and performance the second. To achieve the desired result, several working sessions were necessary on both asphalt and gravel. The technical team of Citroën Sport then compared the performance of the C4 WRC wîth that of the Xsara, which remained the standard, the absolute reference. Although it is still in its development phase, the Citroën C4 WRC has shown real potential. Now, its performance can only truly be confirmed in rally conditions.
Expectations and objectives
The mechanics, engineers, crews and managers of Citroën Sport, are impatient to see how the C4 WRC performs in an actual rally event. Designed to be as easy to drive and as reliable as the Xsara WRC, the C4 WRC aims to set even higher standards of efficiency and performance. A car built and developed to enable Citroën to target the 'drivers' and 'manufacturers' titles once more from 2007.
Main technical characteristics of the Citroën C4 WRC
Like the Xsara, its glorious predecessor, the Citroën C4 WRC features four-wheel drive and a 2-litre turbocharged engine mated to a cross-mounted 6-speed gearbox. At 4.20 m, the C4 WRC is longer than the Xsara and, in line wîth regulations, therefore has a larger width of 1,800 mm, compared wîth 1,700 mm for the Xsara. This change should provide better stability on bends.
As also laid down in the new regulations, the use of electronic driving aids is limited, in the same way as for the Xsara in its 2006 configuration. Referring again to the regulatory budget cuts, the sub-systems of the C4 WRC – such as the engines, gearboxes, front, central and rear differentials and dampers – must last longer and be more reliable.Source - Citroën
The C4 Citroën Sport concept car was a vehicle symbolising the renewal of the Marque. It was the result of cooperation between engineers from the styling and sports departments. In the first instance, the project completely disregarded regulatory requirements. A true exercise in style, it met the challenge of developing a futuristic vision of a new car. A car to replace the Xsara WRC, winner of three world 'manufacturers' crowns between 2003 and 2005. In the expert hands of Citroën Sport's engineers at Versailles Satory, the C4 Citroën Sport concept car became the C4 WRC.
Adapting to regulations
Although the overall styling was maintained, the car had to be adapted to international regulations and performance requirements. This is where the design office of Citroën Sport stepped in. The project working group came up wîth a first rolling model of the Citroën C4 WRC that was already a long way from the original concept. The roof, for example, was no longer made of glass, since this is banned in rally racing. The front and rear wings, bumpers and spoiler were modified to satisfy regulations and performance criteria. To save time and money, a number of body parts were studied in wind tunnels on a scale of ¼ before validation of the full-size parts at the end of the project.
The main lines of the development programmeThe role of the development programme was to validate the parts and powertrain sub-systems developed by the design office. Reliability was the first factor and performance the second. To achieve the desired result, several working sessions were necessary on both asphalt and gravel. The technical team of Citroën Sport then compared the performance of the C4 WRC wîth that of the Xsara, which remained the standard, the absolute reference. Although it is still in its development phase, the Citroën C4 WRC has shown real potential. Now, its performance can only truly be confirmed in rally conditions.
Expectations and objectives
The mechanics, engineers, crews and managers of Citroën Sport, are impatient to see how the C4 WRC performs in an actual rally event. Designed to be as easy to drive and as reliable as the Xsara WRC, the C4 WRC aims to set even higher standards of efficiency and performance. A car built and developed to enable Citroën to target the 'drivers' and 'manufacturers' titles once more from 2007.
 | Vital Stats |
| Engine : 2.0 L., 4-cylinder Power: 315 hp Torque: 420 ft-lbs | |
6-speed Manual | |
Like the Xsara, its glorious predecessor, the Citroën C4 WRC features four-wheel drive and a 2-litre turbocharged engine mated to a cross-mounted 6-speed gearbox. At 4.20 m, the C4 WRC is longer than the Xsara and, in line wîth regulations, therefore has a larger width of 1,800 mm, compared wîth 1,700 mm for the Xsara. This change should provide better stability on bends.
As also laid down in the new regulations, the use of electronic driving aids is limited, in the same way as for the Xsara in its 2006 configuration. Referring again to the regulatory budget cuts, the sub-systems of the C4 WRC – such as the engines, gearboxes, front, central and rear differentials and dampers – must last longer and be more reliable.Source - Citroën| SLENDER LEAD FOR VOLKSWAGEN DRIVER SÉBASTIEN OGIER IN PORTUGAL | |
 | 80 kilometres against the clock, just 119 metres advantage: Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia (F/F) hold a slender lead at the Rally Portugal in their Volkswagen Polo R WRC. Also among the front-runners are their team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN), who ended day one in Portugal just 11.4 seconds behind Ogier and Ingrassia in third place. Tyre selection for the first five of the rally's 15 special stages added to the excitement at the fourth round of the FIA World Ra...[Read more...] |
| OGIER LEADING AHEAD OF LATVALA – VOLKSWAGEN IN FIRST AND SECOND PLACE IN PORTUGAL | |
 | Almost 160 kilometres, six challenging special stages and two Polo R WRC cars in the lead: Volkswagen is currently in first and second place in the Rally Portugal. At the end of the first two days of the three-day event, Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) are 34.8 seconds ahead of their team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) in round four of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). Meanwhile, Andreas Mikkelsen/Mikko Markkula (N/FIN) gained a lot of ground in the overall classi...[Read more...] |
| SÉBASTIEN OGIER: 'RALLY MEXICO – THAT IS PURE GOOSE BUMPS' | |
 | Wolfsburg (04 March 2013). Volkswagen works driver Sébastien Ogier (F) made a little bit of motorsport history at the Rally Sweden three weeks ago. TheFrenchman, with co-driver Julien Ingrassia at his side, claimed Volkswagen's first victory in the FIA World Rally Championship with the Polo R WRC. In an interview, the World Championship leader looks back at that triumph and forward to the challenges ahead. Success in Sweden not only secured your place in the rally history books, bu...[Read more...] |
| GRAVEL, ALTITUDE, HEAT: VOLKSWAGEN POLO R WRC MAKES MEXICAN DEBUT | |
 | ¡Viva México! The Volkswagen Polo R WRC is just a matter of days away from its much-anticipated competitive debut on gravel in the FIA World Rally Championship. The 315 hp four-wheel drive powerhouse from Wolfsburg will take on very specific conditions when it rolls down the starting ramp at the third round of the season, the Rally Mexico, from 7th to 10th March. Reaching altitudes of up to 2,700 metres above sea level, the special stages are the highest the teams will face all season – a true c...[Read more...] |
| The Champion in Touring Car Racing : The BMW M3 | |
 | In August 1985, a rumour surfaced in motor magazine Auto-Deutschland which emanated from a new sports car. An A Group Car from BMW that was a thoroughbred racing car according to the rules but was also to be produced in a version licensed to drive on open roads for everyday use. Speculation about this dream car that could take to normal roads and was intended for the 'Most dynamic among BMW 3 Series drivers' was right on target. But the pundits missed the mark about the motor-sport car by a mile...[Read more...] |
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