An almost unprecedented collection of historic Citroens were present at the Rallye International du Maroc launch near Paris. Bob Neyret – who famously won the Rallye International du Maroc in 1969 and 1970 – brought along examples of both the long-wheelbase and short-wheelbase Citroen DS, similar to the cars that he took to victory in Maroc.
“The Citroen DS was a car that was ahead of its time,” said Neyret. “There was so much technology that other manufacturers only caught up with later. In particular, the suspension design means that the car really floats over bumps, however severe they are. This makes it absolutely ideal for rough roads such as those found in Africa and Morocco. It’s perfect for this.”
Among the drivers to try the rally DS for the first time were Michele Mouton, Richard Tuthill, and Paul-Eric Jarry: the President of the rally’s organising committee, who is set to drive a DS as course opening car in October.
Completing the line-up of rarely-seen Citroens was a Maserati-engined SM rally car, one of the few remaining examples of the BX4TC Group B car (nicknamed ‘the white whale’) and an unusual Citroen DS road car with a saloon body.
– Credit: http://www.rallyeinternationaldumaroc.com/