The Ulster Rally gets underway this week (August 20), based in Antrim. The start of this event will have a special significance for the Citroën DS3 R3, which makes its competition debut.
This will be the first time that the DS3 goes head-to-head with its rivals before being offered for sale to customers. In a baptism of fire, Citroën's latest two-wheel drive machine, equipped with a 210-horsepower engine, will rack up its first competitive miles on extremely specialised terrain.
Irish asphalt is notorious for its lack of grip and bumpy surfaces, which the new car will face over the 205 stage kilometres of the rally. The famously changeable weather in Ulster could also play a key role over the course of the event. Whatever happens, French driver Bryan Bouffier - who was an important part of the new car's development programme - will be doing his best to take the DS3 R3 towards the top of the leaderboard, although he will face considerably more powerful local opposition.
Citroën will be offering the new DS3 R3 for sale for around €100,000 and this follows a tradition of the brand offering complete competition packages for customers.
Jean-Francois Liniere, in charge of customer competition at Citroën Racing, speaking to CompleteCar.ie said, "This is a new car for us and it is a new technology because with the new rules we develop customers cars and we are happy to stay here in Ireland to present this car to the customers. With this car our target is to propose for customers a competitive car because you know our main competitor in this class is the Renault Clio and our target is to have with the DS3 R3, the best car in this category."
Not only the drivers, but also thousands of fans are looking forward to seeing the new Citroën out in anger for the first time this week. The cars will be flagged off the ramp for the start of the Ulster Rally in the early afternoon of Friday, August 20.