Citroën C2 S1600
| Company type | Rally car |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive, motorsport |
| Predecessor | Citroën Saxo S1600 |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Products | Rally cars |
Citroën C2 S1600 is a rally vehicle engineered by Citroën, built upon the Citroën C2 chassis and conforming to Super 1600 specifications. Its first appearance occurred at the 2004 Rally Catalunya.
After Citroën's Xsara achieved notable success in the World Rally Championship (WRC), the manufacturer extended its efforts to the Junior World Rally Championship (JWRC) in 2004. Prior to this, the Citroën Saxo S1600 had earned JWRC titles through drivers Sébastien Loeb in 2001 and Daniel Solà in 2002, cementing Citroën’s influential role in junior rally competitions.
The C2 S1600 represents a significantly upgraded iteration of the C2, created to uphold Citroën's winning tradition. The factory team, featuring driver Dani Sordo, claimed the JWRC title in 2005. Despite facing emerging rivals from Suzuki, Renault, and Fiat, the car continued to perform strongly under privateer management.
In 2008, Sébastien Ogier brought Citroën its second JWRC championship with the C2 S1600, followed by Martin Prokop's championship victory in 2009, highlighting the vehicle’s enduring competitiveness and significance within junior rally series.