Citroën Total World Rally Team
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| Full name | Citroën Total World Rally Team |
|---|---|
| Base | Versallies, France |
| Team principal(s) | Olivier Quesnel[1] |
| Technical director | Xavier Mestelan-Pinon[1] |
| Drivers | Sébastien Loeb Dani Sordo[1] |
| Co-drivers | Daniel Elena Marc Marti[1] |
| Chassis | Citroën C4[1] |
| Tyres | Pirelli |
| World Rally Championship career | |
| Debut | 2001[1] |
| Constructors' Championships | 3 (2003, 2004, 2005)[1] |
| Drivers' Championships | 3 (2004, 2005, 2007)[1] |
| Rally wins | 34[1] |
The Citroën Total World Rally Team is the Citroën factory backed entry into the World Rally Championship.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] 1989
Team formed.[1]
[edit] 1990-2000
Assorted campaigns on the French Rally Championship along with assisting privateer entries into World Rally Championship events.[1] Early cars included the Citroën AX.[2][3][4] Citroen Spain entered a Citroën ZX based WRC kit car into the 1995 Rally Catalunya, driven by Jesus Puras.[5]
[edit] 2001
In 2001, the Citroën Xsara T4 WRC debuted.[1] Jesus Puras wins in Corsica.[1]
The team also dominated in the JWRC with the Citroën Saxo.[6]
[edit] 2002
For the 2002 season, Citroën contested 8 of the 14 Championship rounds.[1] The season saw driver Sébastien Loeb and co-driver Daniel Elena win the Monte Carlo Rally, only to receive a technical penalty at the finish, giving him second. He later won at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland.[1] The team also got a third place finish on the Safari Rally with Thomas Radstrom.[1]
[edit] 2003
For 2003, Citroen entered their first full year in the World Rally Championship, taking the first event, Rallye Monte Carlo, with a 1-2-3 finish.[1] Loeb won, Colin McRae took second and Carlos Sainz placed third.[1] Loeb also won the Rallye Deutschland and Rallye Sanremo. Sainz won the Rally of Turkey. In their first full year, the team took the Manufacturers' championship.[1]
[edit] 2004
Drivers for 2004 were Loeb and Sainz. Loeb won the Monte Carlo Rally, the Swedish Rally, the Cyprus Rally, the Rally of Turkey, Rallye Deutschland and Rally Australia.[1] Sainz won at the Rally of Argentina. Leob won his first Drivers' championship.[1] The team took the Manufacturers' championships.[1]
The team expanded their efforts to the JWRC with the Citroën C2.
[edit] 2005
For the 2005 season, the primary drivers were Loeb and Francois Duval.[1] In Turkey and Greece, Carlos Sainz replaced Duval.[1] Loeb won the Monte Carlo Rally, Rally New Zealand, Rally Italia Sardinia, Rally Cyprus, the Rally of Turkey, the Acropolis Rally, Rally Argentina, Rallye Deutschland, Rallye de France, and Rally Catalunya on his way to win the Drivers' Championship.[1] Duval took his debut win at the Rally Australia.[1] Citroën took the Manufacturers' championship.[1]
[edit] 2006
Citroën took a one year sabbatical, while developing a new rally car. Loeb and joined Xavier Pons and third-driver Dani Sordo at the semi-privateer Kronos Citroen World Rally Team, which received significant support from Citroën Sport for their Xsara rally cars.[1] Sordo was soon promoted to second driver, over Pons. Loeb again won the Drivers' title, despite missing events in Turkey, Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain, after breaking his arm in a mountain biking accident.[1]
[edit] 2007
For the 2007 season, Citroën officially re-entered the World Rally Championship with the all new C4 WRC, driven by Loeb and Sordo.[1] Loeb dueled with Ford's Marcus Grönholm throughout the year, only securing his record tying fourth straight Drivers' title at the final event, the Rally GB.[7] Loeb won in Monte Carlo, Mexico, Portugal, Argentina, Germany, Spain, France and Ireland.[1] Sordo ended the season in 4th place. At the end of the season, Guy Fréquelin retired as Team Principal, replaced by Olivier Quesnel.[1]
[edit] 2008
Loeb and Sordo continue as the team's drivers.[1] At the 2008 Monte Carlo Rally, Loeb won.[8] Sordo suffered from engine trouble, and was forced to retire.[9]
[edit] Gallery
 Team service area |
 C4 WRC at the 2006 Paris Motor Show |
 Loeb at the 2007 Rally GB |
 Xsara WRC05 |
 Loeb at 2005 Rally Cyprus |
 Sordo at 2006 Rally Japan |
 Duval at 2005 Cyprus Rally |
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag WRC, motorsport news, results, features, teams, drivers, updates
- ^ Citroën AX Sport Specifications & History : Rallye-Info.com
- ^ Citroën Manufacturer Profile & Rally History : Rallye-Info.com
- ^ Citroën AX GTI Specifications & History : Rallye-Info.com
- ^ Citroën ZX 16v Kit Car Specifications & History : Rallye-Info.com
- ^ Citroën Saxo Kit Car Specifications & History : Rallye-Info.com
- ^ BBC SPORT | Motorsport | Rallying | Loeb lands fourth straight title
- ^ WRC: Citroen boss: Loeb put in a perfect run
- ^ WRC: Citroen boss: Loeb put in a perfect run
