The year-long preparations that Citroen is undertaking for its 2017 World Rally Championship tilt have taken a new turn with testing moving onto the asphalt.
The Citroen Racing team has already conducted extensive testing on gravel and other soft surfaces and has now begun taking on the bumpy roads on Aude in the South of France.
Technical Director Laurent Fregosi says the hard surface testing is almost like starting from scratch.
“The biggest change is in the suspension,”
“We use lighter parts that allow us to reduce the ground clearance. The drivetrain kinematics are also adapted to the 18″ wheels.
“Large wheels mean we can increase brake disc diameter and use water-cooled callipers.
“We should also mention the lighter body protection. On the aerodynamic front, we now have the ability to adapt the lower part of the front bumper specifically for asphalt.
“Overall, the results were positive and we know where we are at.”
While Citroen Racing driver Kris Meeke says the asphalt testing has allowed him to get a better idea of how the car behaves on this type of surface.
“On tarmac, you can really feel the changes introduced as a result of the new regulations, such as the higher power, the increased width, the power of the brakes.
“We are continuing the programme as planned and each run teaches us a little bit more. Every phase of the project is just as exciting as the last.”
It sounds like the Citroen team will have a well-sorted car by the time the WRC Rally Monte-Carlo rolls around in January.
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