The Dirt Franchise is back with its latest installment: Dirt 3. And its not just back, its back with fiery explosions, a weather simulator, and Ken Block’s "Monster" Ford Fiesta. True rally enthusiasts may not fancy Dirt 3, or even the whole franchise, but there is no denying, Dirt 3 looks good.
No details have been released on the new game, except that it is expected to hit the shelves sometime in 2011 for PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 as confirmed by its creator, CodeMasters. As you can see in the trailer, the graphics will be just as astonishing as the highly successful Dirt 2. It also appears that we will get new stages of H20, rain, and snow, as well as over 50 rally cars and "double the track content" as the previous installment. All of which will add an exciting twist to your rally experience.
Dirt 3 may not be a true to heart rally game as much as being an Americanized translation of the sport, but it’s still an exciting interpretation of it. Let’s just hope it’s not all show and no go.
UPDATE 08/18/2010: Check out the new screenshots for Dirt 3!
We were introduced to the Citroen DS3 R3 about a month and a half ago and we are finally going to be able to see it in action. The car will make its debut at Ulster Rally in the early afternoon of Friday, August 20, 2010.
This will be the first time that the DS3 goes head to head with its rivals, before being offered for sale to customers. Using its four-cylinder 1.6-liter THP (high pressure turbo) engine, the R3 version of the DS3 hatchback will be able to put some competitive miles out at the Ulster Rally. Of course, the engine had to be outfitted with racing parts such as air box, camshaft, pistons, connecting rods, exhaust and turbo systems, electronic unit, etc., in order to be up for the task. These parts allow the hatchback to deliver 210hp of racing power.
"The Ulster Rally is a very tricky event where competitors have to deal with narrow roads that offer little grip. The variable weather conditions in Ireland are capable of springing both nice and nasty surprises so these are sure to be a determining factor in the outcome of the rally. The ideal result for us in Antrim would be to win Group R and finish in the top five overall. From a sporting point of view, Ireland and Great Britain are very important customer competition markets for our company."
Check back with us on August 20th to see more details on the maiden racing voyage of the Citroen DS3 R3!
Reports are coming out that the reinvigorated Swedish brand, Saab, is also set to make its return to the most prestigious rally racing series in the world, which, if everything pushes through, could happen in the 2012 season.
Saab has been absent from the rally scene since 1979 and the brand’s return to the WRC could be in-line to the recent revival the automaker is enjoying under its new ownership.
Details are still sketchy at best, but there appears to be mutual interest from both Spyker - that’s Saab’s new owner, if you’ve been living under a rock for the past few months – and officials from the WRC for Saab to make its rally comeback. Given the brand’s rich history in rally racing, we’re going to be surprised if their return to the WRC doesn’t happen.
In the event that Saab does come back to rallying, it is expected that the brand will be fielding a modified 1.6-liter turbocharged Saab 9-2, which, interestingly, will also be the same platform that the MINI Countryman will be using when it makes its own return to the world of rally racing.
We’ve heard this one before; Lancia may or may not be working on a new version of their legendary Stratos model. If these photos taken at the Fiat Group test track at Balocco near Milan are indicative of the Stratos’ future then, this time, the rumors may be true.
The Lancia Stratos was a sports/rally car designed from the mind of Marcello Gandini, then head designer of Bertone, and was based off the Stratos Zero concept presented at the Turin Motor Show in 1970. It was short, wide, and had a wedge shape that provided maximum traction. The Stratos was home to three different engines during the first part of its life: The Lancia Fulvia engine, the Lancia Beta engine, and the mid-mounted 190bhp Dino Ferrari V6 engine, with the V6 being the favorite.
The Stratos was produced from 1972-1974 and ended up winning the 1974, 1975, and 1976 WRC titles as well as gaining victories in the 1975, 1976, and 1977 Monte Carlo Rally. With 492 units sold during its time, the Lancia Stratos is a very rare and beautiful automobile.
So, is it making a comeback? Unfortunately, we think the answer to that question is no. Apparently, the spy shots taken of this new Stratos is a project that is being privately funded by a European industrialist. We are hoping that the distinct Stratos characteristics, such as the wheel arches cutting into the bonnet, the curved windshield and wraparound side glass, the engine cover, and the flip-up rear spoiler, will mean that this prototype will give way to a new Lancia Stratos for us all. Especially since the vehicle is also being tested at Balocco. Here’s to hoping!
Citroen Racing has used their FIA expertise, as well as the new Group R3T regulations drawn up by the FIA, to create the Citroen DS3 R3. The DS3 R3 will feature a steel body shell reinforced with a welded multipoint roll cage created with the use of 45 meters of steel piping. The weight has been reduced by taking out the supports used in the production model with the battery and the automatic fire extinguisher being moved behind the seats to distribute weight more efficiently.
The DS3 R3 is powered by a four-cylinder 1.6-liter THP (high pressure turbo) engine improved with racing parts (air box, camshaft, pistons, connecting rods, exhaust and turbo systems, electronic unit, etc.). It is mated to a six speed gearbox featuring a semiautomatic sequential control. It also carries with it a specially tuned chassis and suspension. The result is an output of 210bhp and 350 NM of torque.
The Citroen DS3 R3 will be sold as a kit and in ready-to-race versions.
UPDATE 08/17/2010: The Citroen DS3 R3 will make its debut at Ulster Rally in the early afternoon of Friday, August 20th. This will be the first time that the DS3 goes head to head with its rivals, before being offered for sale to customers. Make sure to check back with us on August 20th to see the latest details on the DS3 R3!
