Citroën will leave the WRC in 2016 and the WTCC in 2017

Citroën Racing will no longer play on both fronts from 2016. The chevron brand has announced his withdrawal from WRC next year to focus on the WTCC which will be his last season in the World Touring Car Championship. The Reds will return to the top of the rally in 2017 with a new car corresponding to the future FIA ​​regulations. The model will be a five-door C3.

“We appreciate the freedoms granted to make the cars more spectacular, but also the possibility of reusing the developments carried out for the engine of the Citroën C-Elysée WTCC”, declared Yves Matton, director of Citroën Racing. ?In order to efficiently manage our resources, we have decided to focus all our efforts on the design and development of our new World Rally Car. This is why Citroën will not officially participate in the 2016 World Rally Championship. We will obviously keep an eye on the WRC, both with the organization of the FIA ​​Junior WRC and with the WRC 2 program intended for Quentin Gilbert, Champion. J WRC this year. »

José-Maria Lopez and Yvan Muller will defend the colors of Citroën in the WTCC without the presence of Sébastien Loeb becomes official Peugeot Sport driver. “Always with the desire to optimize our resources, we will defend our titles with a team reduced to two official cars”, added Yves Matton. ?With the arrival of an ambitious new manufacturer, we expect an even higher level of competition. Pechito and Yvan are used to working together, with the success of the team as their primary objective. Next year, they will have to be even more united to allow Citroën to conclude this program successfully. Entrusted to private drivers, other Citroën C-Elysée WTCCs could be entered by the Sébastien team Loeb Racing. »