Citroën Reveals New DS3 R3 Rally Car for the Masses

Citroën is looking to take on the rally circuit with its new DS3 R3, homologated for FIA's new Group R3T regulations. "Versatile, high performance and yet affordably-priced, DS3 R3 is set to become the new leader in its category," says the French carmaker about its rally-prepped DS3 that will be available in both in kit and ready-to-race versions.

Featuring the same structural design and appearance as the production model, with the steel body shell reinforced by a welded, multi-point roll cage, the DS3 R3 Rally car comes with an upgraded 1.6-litre turbocharged inline-four producing 210bhp and 350Nm / 258.2 lb-ft of peak torque.

As with the French carmaker's hardcore C4 WRC, the DS3 R3 is equipped with a six-speed sequential transmission (a first for a customer-racing product), which the company claims allows for gear changes to be made twice as quickly over a manual gearbox.

The suspension has been redesigned and upgraded to make full use of the Group R regulations, allowing for a wide variety of setup options. Rally-spec alloy wheels and a reworked braking system are also part of the package. For more details, check out the complete list below.

TARMAC RACING KIT (500 PARTS)
- Racing engine, assembled and bench-tested, ready to be mounted
- Gearbox, assembled and bench-tested, ready to be mounted
- Reinforced body shell, with roll-cage and seat attachment brackets and accessories (handbrake, ECUs, spare wheel, mounting brackets)
- Reinforced engine sub-frame
- Protective skidplate for engine and exhaust
- Adjustable front and rear suspension elements
- Reinforced hub carriers
- Adjustable specific front suspension wishbones
- Maximum size front and rear brake discs
- Front and rear specific brake callipers
- Reinforced rear axle
- Set of rear axle geometry adjustment shims
- Direct power-steering rack
- Specific braking system
- Specific 'pedal box' assembly
- Tarmac 7x17'' wheels
- Fuel system with FIA-homologated tank
- Specific engine and gearbox cooling system
- Air/high-capacity air exchanger and specific booster circuit
- Aviation type electrical system with digital instrument panel display
- Data acquisition system built into the injection unit
- Roof-mounted air intake
- Glossy dashboard strip
- Specific wheel arch protections
- Front and rear tow straps
- Spare wheel straps

OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT:
- Gravel rallying adaptation kit, including shock absorbers, springs, anti-roll bar, front brake discs, 6x15'' gravel wheels and bodywork protective covers
- Short or long torque settings
- Co-driver footrest
- Citroën Racing rear-view mirrors
- FIA-homologated crash panel doors
- Xenon headlamp assembly
- 64MB data acquisition unit upgrade
- Specific mapping for racing fuel
- Tool kit, including: wheel hub fitting tool, brake fluid bleed device, steering rack shim
- Springs of varying levels of stiffness
- Anti-roll bar of varying diameters
- Standard bodywork spare parts kit

EQUIPMENT NOT INCLUDED IN THE KIT:
- Seats
- Harness
- Fire extinguishers
- Battery
- Spare wheel
- Jack and tyre-changing accessories
- Radio equipment and on-board computer
- FIA-approved anti-shatter protective film
- Tyres

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
CHASSIS
Structure Reinforced body with welded, multi-point roll cage
Bodywork DS3 THP 150 with specific roof-mounted air intake and rear-view mirrors

ENGINE
Type 1.6 THP PSA
Bore x stroke 77x85.8 mm
Capacity 1,598cc
Maximum power 210bhp at 4,750rpm
Maximum torque 35Nm at 3,000rpm
Specific output 131.4bhp/litre
Distribution Double overhead camshaft valve train
Breaker arm with adapted cam profile
Specific pistons, connecting rods, engine flywheel and camshaft
Fuel feed Direct injection
Motorized single throttle valve

CLUTCH
Type Thrust mechanism
184mm cerametallic twin-disk

TRANSMISSION
Type Front-wheel drive
Gearbox Six-speed sequential
Control Electronically controlled with steering wheel-mounted paddle
Differential Self-locking type ZF differential

BRAKES
Front Ventilated disks, 330x30mm (tarmac) and 300x30mm (gravel)
4-piston callipers
Rear 300x8mm discs
2-piston callipers
Distribution Adjustable
Handbrake Hydraulic control
SUSPENSION
Front McPherson type
Specific hinges and hub carriers
Rear H-shaped axles
Shock absorbers BOS three-track adjustable shock absorbers (low-and high-speed compression and rebound)
Adjustable hydraulic bump stop

STEERING
Type Hydraulic power-assisted steering

WHEELS
Tarmac 7x17'' wheels
BFGoodrich 200/50/R17 tyres
Gravel 6x15'' wheels
BFGoodrich 195/70/R15 tyres

DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES
Length 3,948mm
Width 1,715mm
Wheel base 2,465mm
Track 1,520mm (front) – 1,490mm (rear)
Fuel tank 67 litres
Weight 1,230kg with driver pairing (regulations)
Weight distribution 64/36% (front/rear)