Citroen has unveiled its C2-R2 MAX homologation package, a move that's not just good news for anyone who's all about race-bred hot-hatches. The car also confirms Citroen's intent to compete in the FIA Junior World Rally Championship in 2008. The C2-R2 MAX is scheduled to be homologated by the FIA on March 1, and will be available as a kit through Citroen Sport.
The C2-R2 MAX fits in between the C2 Super 1600 and C2-R2, offering a performance boost at a more affordable price for rallyists. Changes over the C2-R2 include a 190 horsepower 1599cc engine and brakes, a revised suspension with a wider track and an adjustable rear, and hydraulic steering. Citroen says the upgrades will enable the car to dominate its class as well as challenging cars from higher classes.
To drive the C2-R2 MAX's abilities home, Citroen let 2007 European Rally champion Simon Jean-Joseph and FIA Junior WRC rookie Sébastien Ogier put the cars through their paces at Satory’s Val d’Or circuit. Both drivers will be campaigning Citroen C2s in the FIA Junior World Rally Championship for 2008.
CITROE?N REVEALS C2-R2 MAX
Citroe?n has today revealed the new Citroe?n C2-R2 MAX. The car is aimed at motorsport
customers, and will be sold in kit form by Citroe?n Sport’s customer division. Before taking
to the world’s special stages, Simon Jean-Joseph and Se?bastien Ogier launched the all-new
C2-R2 MAX at Satory’s Val d’Or circuit.
The new car, which will be homologated by the FIA on the 1st March 2008, was designed to the new
FIA ‘Group R’ regulations. Jean-Franc?ois Lie?ne?re?, Citroe?n Sport’s customer competition manager,
explained: « We felt that it was necessary to expand the range of our competition cars, as we saw a
gap between our two best-selling C2 rally variants: the C2 Super 1600 and the C2-R2. This new
‘intermediate’ car can be run to a budget, but it also has more spirited performance than the C2-R2.
The C2-R2 MAX appeals both to the heart and to the head, and it offers the best compromise between
performance, price and driving pleasure available on the market today. »
The modifications over the standard C2-R2 are chiefly to the engine, which gets an increase in power,
more sophisticated suspension, stronger brakes, adjustable rear suspension, and a hydraulic steering
rack. « From the outside, the car looks largely the same, » commented Alexis Avril, Citroe?n Sport’s
customer competition technical manager. « The front and rear track are just a little bit wider. The main
changes are under the bonnet, with a 1599cc engine that puts out 190 horsepower. » Last year, the
C2-R2 proved its performance on the FIA Junior Championship as well as many different European
national championships. Thanks to this latest evolution, drivers of the C2-R2 MAX will be able to fight
for R2 victory and above all they will be able to rival cars from the class above.
Citroe?n united two extremely talented drivers to stage this demonstration: Simon Jean-Joseph, 2007
European Rally Champion with a Citroe?n C2 Super 1600, and Se?bastien Ogier – a member of the
prestigious Equipe de France FFSA (backed by the French national motorsport federation) and
Echappement magazine’s young driver of the year. Citroe?n Sport director Olivier Quesnel said: « Simon
has a great deal of experience in rallying and thanks to his exceptional talent he will be a fantastic
ambassador for the company and for the C2-R2 MAX all over Europe this year. As for Se?bastien Ogier,
he will get the chance to make his debut on the FIA Junior World Rally Championship in an Equipe de
France FFSA-backed Citroe?n C2 Super 1600 – which has been made possible through a joint effort from
Citroe?n Sport and the French Federation. His six-rally programme will start in Mexico at the end of the
month. »
Citroe?n will therefore be present on the FIA Junior World Rally Championship once more, and it will
also reprise the ‘C2 Junior Experience’. « After the promising results we obtained last year, we’re
delighted to continue the scheme in 2008, » added Olivier Quesnel. « We already have six competitors
signed up: four in a C2 Super 1600 and two in a C2-R2. It’s worth remembering that if the winner of
the 2008 Junior World Rally Championship drives a Citroe?n C2, he will earn two rallies with a WRC car
in 2009. For reasons of fairness, Se?bastien Ogier – who is competing on the FIA Junior World
Championship – will not take part in the C2 Junior Experience. Citroe?n will also be present on several
European national championships this year through some of its subsidiaries, distributors and
customers. »
(Citroe?n C2-R2 MAX)
Rally Eger (Hungarian Championship): 04 – 06 April 2008
Pirelli Rally (British Championship): 18 – 20 April 2008
Vodafone Rally de Portugal (IRC/Portuguese Championship): 08 – 10 May 2008
South Swedish Rally (Swedish Championship): 23 – 25 May 2008
Rally Russia (IRC/Russian Championship): 11 – 13 July 2008
Barum Rally Zlin (ERC/Czech Championship): 22 – 24 August 2008
Rally Principe de Asturias (IRC/Spanish Championship): 12 – 14 September 2008
Rallye Sanremo (IRC/Italian Championship): 26 – 28 September 2008
Programme for Se?bastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia
(Citroe?n C2 Super 1600)
Corona Rally Mexico (JWRC/Mexico) : 28 February – 03 March 2008
Jordan Rally (JWRC/Jordan): 24 – 27 April 2008
Rally d’Italia Sardegna (JWRC/Sardinia): 15 – 18 May 2008
OMV ADAC Rallye Deutschland (JWRC/Germany): 14 – 17 August 2008
Rally RACC Catalunya – Costa Daurada (JWRC/Spain): 02 – 05 October 2008
Rallye de France – Tour de Corse (JWRC/Corsica): 09 – 12 October 2008
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