1987 Citroen BX 4TC

The Citroen BX 4TC was built to contest Group B rally racing and was powered by a four-cylinder turbocharged engine paired with an all-wheel drive system. Homologation regulations required 200 units to be constructed, but it is believed that the figure was never met and just sixty-two were eventually built. The '4TC' in the vehicle's name represented 4-wheel drive Turbo Competition.

The success of the Visa model in small-capacity Group B rally competition encouraged Citroen to develop a car capable of contesting overall victory. Work had begun by 1983, and after a lengthy development and evaluation process, competitions boss Guy Verrier announced the company's new BX 4TC. Rather than using bespoke componentry, the project used many readily available production materials. Beginning with the production of BX's steel monocoque chassis and hydropneumatic suspension systems, the engine was installed longitudinally to accommodate a four-wheel drive system. The bodies were constructed by Heuliez and the engine and transmission were components sourced from the Peugeot 505 Turbo Production car. The 2.2-liter N9TE production engine received a turbocharger and output was rated at 380 bhp for the 'Evolution' competition variant and 200 horsepower for the homologated 'Serie 200' road car. The gearbox came from the Citroën SM.

There were two distinct series of the 'Serie 200' BX 4TC, with the first-series cars identifiable by their 'XL00' chassis number prefix and the second by sequences commencing 'XL30.' A total of twenty 'Evolution' examples were prepared by the Competition department to be used for racing.

The minimum weight for the class was 960 kilograms, but since the BX 4TC used many production components, the rally car tipped the scales at 1,150 kilograms (2,535 pounds). A lengthy approval process meant that homologation status was not approved until January 1, 1986. Thus, the BX 4TC was used for a single season of the World Rally Championship and took part in three rounds: the Monte Carlo Rally, Rally Sweden, and the Acropolis Rally. The car's best result was when Jean-Claude Andruet finished 6th at the Swedish Rally.

1986 was Andruet's final season in the World Rally Championship. During his career, he won the world title in 1972 in an Alpine A110, and later competed with a Lancia Stratos, Fiat 131 Abarth, Ferrari 308 GTB, Lancia 037, plus several races in a BMW. For the 1986 season, he teamed up with Philippe Wambergue, who had raced for several seasons with Citroën and Peugeot, and was French rallycross Champion in 1989 driving a Peugeot 205 Turbo 16.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2024