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 7×17” 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, 6×15” 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 SPECIFICATIONSCHASSISStructure Reinforced body with welded, multi-point roll cageBodywork DS3 THP 150 with specific roof-mounted air intake and rear-view mirrors
ENGINEType 1.6 THP PSABore x stroke 77×85.8 mmCapacity 1,598ccMaximum power 210bhp at 4,750rpmMaximum torque 35Nm at 3,000rpmSpecific output 131.4bhp/litreDistribution Double overhead camshaft valve trainBreaker arm with adapted cam profileSpecific pistons, connecting rods, engine flywheel and camshaftFuel feed Direct injectionMotorized single throttle valve
CLUTCHType Thrust mechanism184mm cerametallic twin-disk
TRANSMISSIONType Front-wheel driveGearbox Six-speed sequentialControl Electronically controlled with steering wheel-mounted paddleDifferential Self-locking type ZF differential
BRAKESFront Ventilated disks, 330x30mm (tarmac) and 300x30mm (gravel)4-piston callipersRear 300x8mm discs2-piston callipersDistribution AdjustableHandbrake Hydraulic controlSUSPENSIONFront McPherson typeSpecific hinges and hub carriersRear H-shaped axlesShock absorbers BOS three-track adjustable shock absorbers (low-and high-speed compression and rebound)Adjustable hydraulic bump stop
STEERINGType Hydraulic power-assisted steering
WHEELSTarmac 7×17” wheelsBFGoodrich 200/50/R17 tyresGravel 6×15” wheelsBFGoodrich 195/70/R15 tyres
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIESLength 3,948mmWidth 1,715mmWheel base 2,465mmTrack 1,520mm (front) – 1,490mm (rear)Fuel tank 67 litresWeight 1,230kg with driver pairing (regulations)Weight distribution 64/36% (front/rear)
