Citroen unveils 2017 C3 WRC

Citroen Racing has revealed the car that signals its triumphant return to the FIA World Rally Championship.

Unveiled at a special event in Abu Dhabi, the all-new C3 WRC benefits from all the recent WRC regulation changes for the 2017 season and much is riding on the team's star driver, Kris Meeke.

The French car maker holds eight manufacturers' titles and an incredible 96 wins to its name, for 2017 its mission is nothing less than to return to its winning ways.

Loosely based on the new five-door C3, the WRC is 55mm wider than last year's WRC cars. This boosts stability and grip, thanks to a corresponding wider front and rear track.

Under the bonnet, like the recently revealed Fiesta WRC, the small Citroen benefits from a 20 per cent power hike over the cars that competed in 2016.

This means the C3's 1.6-litre turbo four-cylinder produces 280kW/400Nm.

To deploy the extra power and torque the more relaxed 2017 regs allow the all-wheel drive system to feature a centrally-controlled hydraulic differential. This enables torque to be shuffled to the rear wheels to offset understeer and boost traction for faster cornering.

The less restrictive regulations also extend to aerodynamics, hence the huge rear double-blade wing, aggressive front splitter, winglets, rear diffuser and numerous other wind-bending aids.

As well as focusing on producing greater downforce at high speeds the C3 WRC also features added vents to cool the engine, transmission and brakes.

Citroen said its experience competing in the WTCC championship with its C4-based C-Elysee meant it didn't have to start from scratch with developing the C3 WRC car aero.

To help prepare for the new season, Citroen Racing says the new C3 WRC has already racked up more than 9500km of testing.

For 2017, Citroen's greatest rival is shaping up to be the Ford. Not least because the well-funded, equally-new, Fiesta WRC car will be driven by four-times WRC world champion Sebastien Ogier.