WTCC – Citroën with Sébastien Loeb in 2014, it’s done!

We hardly heard anything about it anymore. Even to the point that some no longer believed in it. Citroën and Sébastien Loeb will be well engaged in the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) next year! For the first time in its history, the chevron brand is entering an international circuit championship. A “strong signal”, as described by the French manufacturer, which “underlines the importance of motorsport, a technological laboratory for the Brand, and the desire to continue the formidable association between Citroën and Sébastien Loeb by embarking on a new challenge together”.

“The last few months have been used by Citroën Racing to explore the opportunity to launch this program”, explains Frédéric Banzet, General Director of the brand. “The WTCC is based on several fundamental bases for Citroën: broad media visibility, regulations limiting budgets and a truly global calendar. This commitment allows us once again to highlight our Creative Technology signature, but also to support the development of the Brand in promising and growing markets such as China, Russia or South America. I would like to thank our historic partner Total, who will support us in this new adventure. »

Loeb is enthusiastic

Citroën Racing will participate in the entire 2014 FIA WTCC, it is also specified. After winning 9 World Rally Champion titles with the Xsara, C4 and DS3 WRC, Sébastien Loeb is delighted at the idea of ​​once again defending the colors of his favorite team in a new challenge: “ First of all, I am happy with this confirmation, it is a bit of a dream to think that we are all going to write a new chapter in our history together. I can't wait to take my first laps behind the wheel of the car and start testing. I used this transition year to increase my experiences and upgrade my driving on the circuit. I don't claim to win straight away, but I fully intend to do so one day. » Nothing has filtered out regarding the second driver, even if the name of Yvan Muller, three-time world champion in the discipline and currently well on his way to securing a fourth crown, is already on the lips of many observers.

Regarding the car that will be used, there is still a lot to learn. For the moment, we know that its arrival will fit into the new 2014 WTCC regulations, intended to make the vehicles entered more spectacular. On the other hand, Yves Matton, boss of Citroën Racing, has confirmed that the 1.6 turbo direct injection engine of the DS3 WRC can be re-used in the WTCC. Finally, AUTOhebdo learned from an internal source at the manufacturer that the future Citroën WTCC would already be ready to roll.