[Competitive Citroëns]: The Citroën ZX Rallye-Raid, a rally-raid legend

Citroën is a brand known first and foremost for its commitment to motoring comfort. However, over the decades it has demonstrated its expertise in competition, particularly in rally-raids and the World Rally Championship. Its successes in these disciplines have made Citroën a benchmark in motorsport.

In this new section, "Citroëns in Competition", we take a look back at the iconic models that have marked the history of motorsport. To kick off this series, let's take a look at a legendary car: the Citroën ZX Rally-Raid.

Presentation of the Citroën ZX Rallye Raid

The Citroën ZX Rallye Raid made its competitive debut at the Baja Aragon in Spain from 20 to 22 July 1990, where it immediately won. Surprisingly, this competition model was unveiled before the production version of the ZX, which would not be unveiled until March 1991. This bold strategy was intended to demonstrate Citroën's expertise in terms of performance and reliability before the commercial launch of the mainstream model.

Technically, the ZX Rallye Raid was inspired by the Peugeot 405 Turbo 16, inheriting its chassis and advanced technologies. This transition was due to Peugeot's decision to withdraw from rally-raid to concentrate on the 24 Hours of Le Mans, giving Citroën the opportunity to take the reins in this demanding discipline. Under the direction of Guy Fréquelin, Citroën Sport assembled a team of experienced drivers, including Ari Vatanen and Jacky Ickx, to lead the ZX Rally-Raid to success.

A successful career

From the start, the ZX Rally-Raid established itself as a real winner. In 1991, its second season, it won several major victories, including the Paris-Tripoli-Dakar, the Baja Aragon and the Rally of the Pharaohs, with riders such as Ari Vatanen and Pierre Lartigue.

Over the years, the ZX Rally-Raid underwent several technical upgrades, including the Evolution 2, 3, 4 and 5 versions, in order to remain competitive in the face of increasing competition. These improvements paid off as Citroën dominated the World Rally-Raid Cup, winning the Manufacturers' title five times in a row from 1993 to 1997, while Pierre Lartigue and his co-driver Michel Périn took the Drivers' title during the same period.

Notable victories for the ZX Rally-Raid also include three Dakar Rally wins in 1994, 1995 and 1996, cementing Citroën's reputation in the rally-raid arena. The ZX Rally-Raid's career came to an end in 1997 with an impressive tally of 36 victories in 42 races.

The ZX Rally-Raid's successes also allowed Citroën to promote the production versions of the ZX, strengthening the links between the two models. Thanks to these competitive performances, the production ZX benefited from a more dynamic and robust image, attracting customers who appreciated the brand's sporting heritage.

The influence of the ZX Rally-Raid was not limited to competition. The lessons learnt from its development and successes contributed to the improvement of Citroën's production models, particularly in terms of robustness and suspension technology. This rally-raid expertise also laid the foundations for the brand's future involvement in the World Rally Championship, where Citroën continued to shine.

The Citroën ZX Rallye-Raid remains an icon of rally-raid racing, having long established the Chevrolet brand in this discipline. Its impressive record and the innovations it introduced not only strengthened Citroën's image in competition, but also benefited its production cars, demonstrating the synergy between sporting performance and automotive excellence.