Photo: Citroën Racing

“The WTCC was on two feet before Citroën, and will go on in 2017”, says series boss François Ribeiro

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Head of Eurosport Events, the WTCC’s promoter, François Ribeiro, has acknowledged Citroën’s departure from the sport as a “cyclical” process, and remarks that the French manufacturer has raised the bar for all competitors in the last two years.

Ribeiro however is buoyant about the championship’s future, despite Citroën opting to focus on the World Rally Championship from 2017 with their new technical regulations coming in that season.

Citroën will leave the WTCC after three years at the end of 2016, the shortest full manufacturer programme in the WTCC’s history.

“We were delighted when Citroën chose the WTCC over a number of other international championships and pleased they got so much out of their participation,” said Ribeiro. “Given the economic climate, Citroën Racing has been requested to focus on one world championship and they are going back to their rallying roots, with a strong WTCC engine. We respect that decision and know manufacturer involvement in motorsport has always been cyclical.”

Citroën will continue for one more year in 2016 with two cars for José María López and Yvan Muller, with privateer programmes set to expand with the all-conquering C-Elysée WTCC.

Volvo will also enter the WTCC with a pair of S60s in the first season of a multi-year agreement, while Honda and Lada will also continue their factory programmes with the Civic and Vesta respectively.

“There’s no question Citroën raised the technological and performance bar at a period of the introduction of new technical regulations,” added Ribeiro.

“The WTCC was on its two feet before Citroën entered, and will go on in 2017. Citroën will still enter a full factory team in 2016 and we are already working with them to see how a semi-factory team can be run beyond the end of next year.

“With Volvo making a long-term commitment to the championship, five manufacturers will be represented in 2016 with discussions continuing with other car makes who are considering a WTCC entry.”