This is the new Citroen DS3 R3, built to the FIA’s new Group R3T regulations. It features he same structural design and appearance as the production model, with the production steel body shell reinforced by a welded, multi-point roll cage.
The engine is the BMW PSA Prince 1.6 litre THP engine modified with uprated parts such as a racing air box, cams, pistons, conrods, exhaust system, turbo and ECU, helping boost power up to 210hp (with 350Nm torque) from the usual 156hp to 175hp range found in the production cars. The oil sump has been modified and fitted with a composite partiten to both increase ground clearance and avoid oil surges during long corners.
The engine is mated to a 6-speed sequential racing gearbox with paddle shifts, the same model in the C4 WRC. A clutch is still present but is only required to start from standstill – afterwards its just flicking the pedal forward to downshift and pull them back to upshift.
The car will be sold by Citroën Racing in kit and ready-to-race versions, so privateer teams can start buying it. The base car is a DS3 THP 150 and there’s a whole new list of 500 new parts required to turn it into the DS3 R3 – you can find this list after the jump.
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COMPOSITION OF THE DS3 R3 KIT
(Marketed by Citroën Racing for assembly on a DS3 THP 150)
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 SPECIFICATIONS
CHASSIS
Structure Reinforced body with welded, multi-point roll cage
Bodywork DS3 THP 150 with specific roof-mounted air intake and rear-view mirrors
ENGINE
Type 1.6 THP PSA
Bore x stroke 77×85.8 mm
Capacity 1,598cc
Maximum power 210bhp at 4,750rpm
Maximum torque 35Nm at 3,000rpm
Specific output 131.4bhp/litre
Distribution Double overhead camshaft valve train
Breaker arm with adapted cam profile
Specific pistons, connecting rods, engine flywheel and camshaft
Fuel feed Direct injection
Motorized single throttle valve
CLUTCH
Type Thrust mechanism
184mm cerametallic twin-disk
TRANSMISSION
Type Front-wheel drive
Gearbox Six-speed sequential
Control Electronically controlled with steering wheel-mounted paddle
Differential Self-locking type ZF differential
BRAKES
Front Ventilated disks, 330x30mm (tarmac) and 300x30mm (gravel)
4-piston callipers
Rear 300x8mm discs
2-piston callipers
Distribution Adjustable
Handbrake Hydraulic control
SUSPENSION
Front McPherson type
Specific hinges and hub carriers
Rear H-shaped axles
Shock absorbers BOS three-track adjustable shock absorbers (low-and high-speed compression and rebound)
Adjustable hydraulic bump stop
STEERING
Type Hydraulic power-assisted steering
WHEELS
Tarmac 7×17’’ wheels
BFGoodrich 200/50/R17 tyres
Gravel 6×15’’ wheels
BFGoodrich 195/70/R15 tyres
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES
Length 3,948mm
Width 1,715mm
Wheel base 2,465mm
Track 1,520mm (front) – 1,490mm (rear)
Fuel tank 67 litres
Weight 1,230kg with driver pairing (regulations)
Weight distribution 64/36% (front/rear)
