Citroën sits out 2016 WRC season, and withdraws WTCC at the end of the 2016 season

Citroën will withdraw from next year's World Rally Championship, taking a season out to develop its all-new 2017 World Rally Car it was confirmed yesterday (19/11/15). They also confirmed, they will withdraw from the World Touring Car Championship at the end of the 2016 season as-well.





In a major shake-up announced by Citroën's CEO Linda Jackson, the French manufacturer has outlined its plans for the next two seasons and will pull out its WRC team in WRC for 2016 to give the team 12 months to focus on developing a new rally car ahead of major regulation changes for the 2017 season.

While, Citroën WTCC Team will leave the World Touring Car Championship at the end of the 2016 season, during which they will reduce their programme to just two cars for José María López and Yvan Muller for 2016, with former nine time WRC Champion Sébastien Loeb switching to Peugeot’s Cross-Country Rally Team for 2016 as-well as competing in next years Dakar Rally.

This is not the first time that Citroën have sited out a WRC season. Back in 2006, the works Citroën team sited out the season to develop the new C4 WRC, while Kronos Racing took the old Citroën Xsara WRC with Sébastien Loeb and took his third Drivers' title for Citroën thanks to Kronos that season.



However, this won't be repeated next season. But, it is likely that a satellite team can run the 2015 Citroën DS3 WRC on selected rallies next season with significant input from Citroën.

Right decision from Citroën, time will tell if they done the right decision in the long term.

End of blog for now. New post soon. Bye.