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Citroen Racing knows a little bit about winning. Despite only entering the World Rally Championship in a full capacity in 2003, the French marque has amassed 96 rally victories and eight manufacturer's championships, mostly thanks to a diminutive man from Alsace named Sebastien Loeb. Seb has since sailed off into the sunset of semi-retirement, but Citroen is gearing up for a big assault on next year's championship with the new C3 WRC.
A big reshuffle of the championship's technical regulations has allowed Citroen Racing's engineers to transform the C3 into a flame-spitting, gravel-devouring monster. The new rules are intended to restore some of the spectacle and wonder created by the infamous Group B cars of three decades ago, and to that end the C3 WRC makes 380hp from its 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine, has aero that wouldn't look out of place on a touring car and electronically-controlled differentials. The last feature is one that has caused much consternation among fans and competitors alike, as these were previously banned back in 2005 on cost grounds. One thing is for sure, if you think that the current World Rally Cars with their 300hp engines are quick, you ain't seen nothing yet.
The concept certainly looks the part with its pumped-up stance, and the coloured details on the show car are intended to forge a link with the paint options available on the road version, however tenuous that may be... Of major interest to rally fans on this island is the fact that one car will be crewed by Dungannon's Kris Meeke and his Killarney co-driver Paul Nagle, who have already emerged victorious on two rallies so far this year despite Citroen only competing in selected rounds. Young star Craig Breen is also in the running for a factory seat, so the Monte Carlo Rally in January is sure to provide plenty of fireworks. If the C3 WRC succeeds next year, could Citroen celebrate by building a performance-oriented C3 road car? It would certainly liven things up in the junior hot hatch sector, so here's hoping that they knock those pesky Volkswagen boys off their perch...