Factory Citroën Sport Works Car

Ex–Pierre Lartigue – Four-Time World Rally-Raid Champion

There are competition cars, and there are machines that define an era.

In the early 1990s, rally raid represented one of motorsport’s last true frontiers — a punishing theatre of endless dunes, mechanical attrition, and factory ambition pushed to its absolute limits. With the ZX Rallye-Raid program, Citroën did not merely participate; it redefined the discipline, establishing one of the most dominant cross-country programs ever assembled.

Chassis “C17” is a direct artifact of that golden age — a factory works car intrinsically linked to one of rally raid’s greatest drivers, Pierre Lartigue.

The Benchmark of a Generation

Engineered and campaigned by Citroën Sport to conquer the world’s toughest events, the ZX Rallye-Raid quickly became the undisputed reference point of the FIA Cross-Country Rally World Cup.

Its record remains extraordinary:

• 5 FIA Cross-Country Rally World Cup Manufacturer Titles (1993–1997)

• 5 FIA Cross-Country Rally World Cup Driver Titles (1993–1997)

• 36 Overall Victories in international rally-raid competition

This particular chassis contributed to Citroën’s 1993 Manufacturer and Driver titles alongside Pierre Lartigue, during the formative phase of the program’s dominance.

Period competition highlights for C17 include:

• Paris–Dakar Rally – 3rd Overall (Hubert Auriol)

• Dubai Rally – 2nd Overall (Pierre Lartigue)

• Baja España Aragón – 5th Overall (Hubert Auriol)

• Participation in additional championship events as part of the official factory campaign

Beyond individual results, the ZX Rallye-Raid became synonymous with Lartigue’s career trajectory — a driver who would secure three Paris–Dakar victories and cement his status among the most successful figures in rally-raid history.

Provenance and Authenticity

In 2012, the car was acquired directly by Pierre Lartigue himself — a compelling continuation of its factory narrative.

Following acquisition, C17 was comprehensively serviced by Citroën Sport and refinished in a livery inspired by the legendary Paris–Moscow–Beijing Rally.

Of particular note, the French registration remains issued in the name of “Automobiles Citroën” — a rare and meaningful distinction that underscores its genuine works origin.

Citroën Sport Engineering at Its Peak

Purpose-built for extreme endurance and sustained high-speed desert performance, the ZX Rallye-Raid represents factory engineering without compromise:

• Steel tubular spaceframe chassis with integrated roll cage

• Carbon-Kevlar composite bodywork

• Fully independent long-travel suspension with coil-over dampers

• Ventilated disc brakes (front and rear) with dual hydraulic circuit

Technical Specification

• 2.5-liter turbocharged engine (1994 evolution specification)

• 6-speed manual gearbox

• Approx. 1,350 kg (2,976 lbs)

• Approx. 210 km/h (130 mph) top speed

A Rare Opportunity

Factory ZX Rallye-Raid works cars seldom emerge from long-term institutional or private collections.

Combining documented factory provenance, period competition history, and direct association with a multiple Paris–Dakar-winning champion, chassis C17 represents one of the defining rally-raid machines of the modern era.

Equally compelling in a premier collection, museum setting, or appropriate historic competition environment, this is an opportunity to acquire a true works icon from rally raid’s most celebrated era.

Complete historical file, period documentation, additional photography, and further information available upon request.

Location: France, worldwide shipping available.