Citroën is finalising two hot versions of the DS3 to cement that model’s position as its motorsport vehicle.
The DS3 WRC has been caught testing on asphalt in France, with Citroën’s six-time rally champ Sébastien Loeb behind the wheel.
See the pics of the two DS3 rally models in testing
It has been designed for new rally rules next year that simplify transmissions and downsize engines from 2.0 litres to turbocharged 1.6-litre units.
However, it’s likely that the car in these images is fitted with a detuned version of the 2.0-litre turbo used in the existing C4 WRC.
Citroën and Ford have both been evaluating next year’s challengers with current powerplants in recent months.
Further down the motorsport ladder, Citroën Racing — the Satory-based operation that’s responsible for all of the firm’s on-track activities — has released details of its club-level DS3 rally car.
Built to R3T rules, the DS3 R3 has a tuned version of the 1.6-litre turbo engine from the road car, now with 210bhp and 258lb ft, and a semi-auto sequential ’box. It will be sold to amateur rally competitors as a kit or in ready-to-drive form.
