Citroën took part in their last World Touring Car Championship race meeting as a manufacturer entry in Qatar, with Team Principal Yves Matton taking time to highlight their successes over three years.
Since joining the WTCC at the beginning of 2014, Citroën have enjoyed unprecedented success at the top level of touring car racing.
Entering initially with a three-car team for Yvan Muller, José María López and Sébastien Loeb, the marque notched up 17 wins in their first season of competition.
Expanding to a four-car team full-time with Ma Qing Hua in 2015, Citroën did even better, with an incredible 21 wins out of 24 races.
Even in 2016, with half as many works entries, there were still an impressive nine wins for Citroën Racing, or 12 if you count the three independent victories taken by Sébastien Loeb Racing.
With impressive statistics, Matton was keen to highlight the brand’s glittering numbers as they depart to work on their new project in the World Rally Championship in 2017.
“This was the ‘Red Army’s’ last appearance in the FIA WTCC,” said Matton. “I would like to thank every member of the team for their commitment, their constant thirst for improvement and their willingness to represent Citroën in what was a new discipline for the team.
“I will cite two figures to demonstrate Citroën Racing’s know-how: 89% of pole positions and 72% of race wins in three seasons.
“Thanks must go, too, to José María López and Yvan Muller. I have been lucky enough to work with these two great Champions, who are also great men.
“And I cannot help thinking of Sébastien Loeb and Ma Qing Hua, who also contributed so much to this success, which I will always remember as an amazing adventure for the people involved.”
Citroën C-Elysées will continue to race in the championship in 2017, with Sébastien Loeb Racing expected to continue running the cars, as well as another team potentially taking on the second-hand chassis.
