Citroen to go rallying with the DS3 R3

"Versatile, high performance and yet affordably-priced, DS3 R3 is set to become the new leader in its category," says Citroen of its latest creation which has been homologated and will be available in both race-ready and kit versions.

The DS3 R3 features a roll cage, a tubular wishbone front suspension, a reinforced rear cross-member, and an advanced braking system with two master cylinders, all of which Citroen hopes will make the car competitive in the Group R3T class that the DS3 R3 will compete in.

Under the bonnet, the DS3 R3 is powered by a 1.6-litre THP high pressure turbo engine that produces 210bhp and 350Nm of torque. The engine has been modified with a regulation-compliant 29mm turbo flange, and high performance racing components such as the air filter, camshaft, pistons, connecting rods and engine flywheel.

There is also a sequential semi-automatic transmission, which Citroen says allows for gear changes to be made twice as quickly over a manual gearbox. The suspension has also been redesigned upgraded to the Group R regulations, allowing for a wide variety of setup options. Rally-style alloy wheels and a reworked braking system are also part of the package.