• Believed to be one of just 13 Works-prepared DS3 WRCs constructed between 2011 and 2016
• Secured 11 WRC victories, 16 podiums, and 80 stage wins; a record for any WRC chassis
• Achieved eight WRC wins with Sébastien Loeb, including the 2012 and 2013 Monte Carlo Rallies
• Driven to victory by Loeb in the 2012 Rallye de France, the scene of his historic ninth WRC title
• Also used by Dani Sordo and Kris Meeke to take their first WRC wins, and by the late Craig Breen in his maiden WRC podium finish
• Newly rebuilt by leading rally preparation specialist PH Sport of Langres, France

After more than a decade of regulatory stability, the World Rally Championship (WRC) embraced the new, cost-conscious, Super 2000 Rallye ruleset for 2011. The incoming regulations outlawed costly driver aids and restricted the use of exotic materials, simultaneously mandating boost-controlled 1.6-litre turbocharged engines in preference to the departing 2.0-litre units.

As winners of the previous seven Drivers’ Championships—each courtesy of Sébastien Loeb—and three Constructors’ titles, Citroën had most to lose, yet the team’s DS3 WRC ensured a seamless transition to the new regulations. Its transversely mounted inline four-cylinder engine and six-speed Sadev sequential gearbox permitted neat packaging; the 300 horsepower, 1,200-kilogram racer immediately pulled ahead of the field, winning in only its second event. Incredibly, over the remainder of 2011 and 2012—a period encompassing some 25 WRC events—the DS3 would be beaten just five times. Loeb and Citroën emerged victorious in both Championships, across both years.

Throughout this time, car “17” was critical to Citroën’s WRC assault, and it is this machine which RM Sotheby’s is proud to offer here. In 2012, it was driven exclusively by Loeb—the Frenchman started the season with victory in Monte Carlo, and later took wins in Mexico, Greece, Germany, France, and Spain. Significantly, it was at the wheel of this very chassis that Loeb won the Rallye de France, thereby securing a historic ninth World Drivers’ crown.

Loeb continued to use the Citroën in early 2013, taking his eighth Monte Carlo win prior to a final victory in the car in Argentina. Thereafter, it was used by Loeb’s teammates Dani Sordo and Kris Meeke; the former enjoyed a maiden WRC success in Germany in 2013 and the latter wins in Argentina in 2015, and in Portugal in 2016.

Acquired by French Rally team PH Sport in 2015, the car was subsequently rebuilt and is presented in the “9 WRC titles” celebratory livery in which it contested the 2013 Rallye de France. Boasting an unparalleled competition history, an intimate involvement with the most successful of all rally greats, and having achieved WRC success with no fewer than three different drivers, this famous Citroën presents a strong case as the most illustrious modern generation rally car ever to be publicly offered for sale.

Race DateDriverCo-driverPositionMonte Carlo Rally18-22 January 2012Sébastien LoebDaniel Elena1stRally Mexico8-11 March 2012Sébastien LoebDaniel Elena1stAcropolis Rally24-27 May 2012Sébastien LoebDaniel Elena1stRallye Deutschland24-26 August 2012Sébastien LoebDaniel Elena1stRallye de France Alsace4-7 October 2012Sébastien LoebDaniel Elena1stRally Catalunya8-11 November 2012Sébastien LoebDaniel Elena1stMonte Carlo Rally15-20 January 2013Sébastien LoebDaniel Elena1stRally Argentina3-5 May 2013Sébastien LoebDaniel Elena1stRallye Deutschland23-25 August 2013Dani SordoCarlos del Barrio1stRally Argentina23-26 April 2015Kris MeekePaul Nagle1stRally de Portugal19-22 May 2016Kris MeekePaul Nagle1st

Please note that this lot is subject to VAT on the full purchase price (both on the hammer price and commission).

Furthermore, please also note this lot comes with a French carte grise.

Bitte beachten Sie, dass bei diesem Los Mehrwertsteuer auf den gesamten Kaufpreis anfällt (sowohl auf den Hammerpreis als auch auf das Aufgeld).

Bitte beachten Sie auch, dass dieses Los mit einer französischen Carte Grise geliefert wird.

To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/mu23.