2014 Citroen C-Elysée WTCC

Having dominated first cross-country rallying and then the WRC, Citroën Racing was confronted with a different challenge altogether when it set about creating the Citroën C-Elysée WTCC. The car meets the requirements of the FIA TC1 regulations, which entered into force at the start of the 2014 season.

A NEW CHALLENGE FOR CITROËN RACING

Between announcing its intention to enter the WTCC at the 2012 Paris Motor Show and making its involvement official in mid-2013, Citroën took the time to study its new challenge in detail. Tests with a “laboratory” DS 3enabled the technical team to get to grips with the basics of track racing. The WTCC and the WRC, after all, are as different as the 100 metres and the Marathon.

The C-Elysée, one of the spearheads of Citroën’s global development, was the car chosen to lead the team’s charge. The C-Elysée is proving highly successful on fast-growing international markets such as the Mediterranean basin, China and Russia, all of which feature on the WTCC itinerary.

Using the production model as their starting point, the engineers at Citroën Racing’s design office began work on the “M43 WTCC” project. They had to take account of the fundamental characteristics of the production model, the constraints imposed by the new regulations, and the specifications regarding expected performance and reliability levels As soon as the first plans were finished, the construction of the chassis got underway in the bodyshop.

PUTTING AERODYNAMICS AT THE CORE OF DEVELOPMENT

In rallying, aerodynamics, while not neglected, is of relatively marginal importance. On a track car, it can make all the difference when it comes to improving performance. The selection of the C-Elysée as the base model, a choice dictated by the brand’s marketing strategy, was welcomed by Citroën Racing’s engineers, as a three-box saloon intrinsically offers better aerodynamic performance levels.

The TC1s are much more advanced than the previous generation of cars. The wings have been widened to accommodate 18-inch wheels, while the front bumper has also been modified, now incorporating an aerodynamic splitter. The underside of the car is flat, and the aerodynamic adjustments are completed with an imposing rear spoiler.

The engineers ran CFD (computational fluid dynamics) calculations on an initial body shape created using CAD software. At the same time, a mock-up was built for wind-tunnel testing. The association of these two steps combined with the results scored on the track led to regular evolutions resulting in the homologation of the car by the FIA a few weeks before the start of the 2014 season.

ALL UP FRONT

Unlike most track cars, the TC1s are front-wheel drive. As well as bearing the weight of the powertrain, the front wheels are solely responsible for the vehicle’s drive and steering functions. Some of the experience acquired with the Xsara Kit-Car in the early 2000s proved useful in the initial phases of the design process.

The Citroën C-Elysée WTCC chassis was built in the same way as that of the DS 3 WRC: the series production body structure was altered, with wider rear wings, and attachment points for the suspensions and sub-frames. The whole car was then reinforced with a roll cage, the primary component of an important system designed to ensure driver safety.

AN ENGINE DERIVED FROM THE DS 3 WRC

Under the bonnet, the work done on the engine was greatly facilitated by the experience of Citroën Racing. Like in WRC, WTCC cars are equipped with four-cylinder 1600 cc direct-injection turbo engines. The engine specialists were therefore able to draw on their existing knowledge to help them adapt to the specific needs of the new discipline. The first major difference lies in the wider turbo flange, which measures 36 mm across in the WTCC version, as against 33 mm in the WRC. This increases power output by some 20%, to an estimated 380 hp. In addition, the regulations only allow one engine block per car for the entire season, during which each car will cover around 5,000 kilometres.

DEVELOPMENTS FOR THE SEASON 2015

With 11 pole positions from 12 qualifying sessions, as well as 17 wins in 23 races, the Citroën C-Elysée WTCC surpassed all the objectives planned for its first season of competition. Far from resting on their laurels, the Citroën Racing engineers have come up with several developments for 2015. They are essentially in the suspension geometry of the front axle and aerodynamics.