French car manufacturer Citroen announced on Thursday that it will not take part in the 2016 World Rally Championship as it prepares a new car for the 2017 season, also confirming that nine-time champion Sebastien Loeb has switched to the Peugeot stable for the Dakar Rally.
“In order to dedicate as many resources as possible to development of the new car, the Citroen Racing team will be putting its participation in the WRC on hold next season,” the manufacturers said in a statement, adding that they will continue in the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC).
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Linda Jackson, chief executive officer of the Citroen Brand, added: “With eight world titles and a record 94 wins, Citroen has certainly enjoyed unrivalled success in the WRC.
“Rallying is a fascinating sport, which tests the performance, reliability and solidity of the cars and drivers in some magnificent settings. The category is taking off again, with increasingly widespread live television coverage and the arrival of China on the calendar in 2016.
“In 2017, the appearance of a new generation of cars, which are purported to be very attractive, will coincide with our renewed involvement.”
Citroen ran as the Citroen Total Abu Dhabi World Rally team this season, with Norwegian Mads Ostberg and Northern Ireland’s Kris Meeke finishing fourth and fifth respectively in the final standings.
The UAE’s Sheikh Khaled Al Qassimi took part in five of 13 rallies, finishing 13th overall.
The cars to be used from the 2017 season are wider, more powerful and more impressive, with imposing aerodynamic features, replacing the current generation of World Rally Cars introduced in 2011.
“We have never hidden our interest in the 2017 WRC regulations and the entire team is extremely motivated by this new challenge,” said Citroen team principal Yves Matton.
“We like the freedom granted to make the cars more spectacular, but also the possibility of reusing development work done on the Citroen C-Elysee WTCC’s engine.”
Citroen added that Loeb, a nine-time World Rally Champion with Citroen and also one of the most versatile drivers ever seen in the history of motor sport, has chosen to take on the Dakar Rally alongside his long-time co-pilot Daniel Elena as part of the Peugeot Sport team.
“This marks the end of one chapter for me, but what I want to focus on today is my satisfaction at having participated in Citroen’s success in the WRC and WTCC,” said Loeb.
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Points Classification
1. Marcel Kittel (Germany / Quick-Step) 63
2. Arnaud Demare (France / FDJ) 38
3. Andre Greipel (Germany / Lotto) 25
4. Sonny Colbrelli (Italy / Bahrain) 24
5. Mark Cavendish (Britain / Dimension Data) 22
6. Taylor Phinney (U.S. / Cannondale) 21
7. Geraint Thomas (Britain / Team Sky) 20
8. Thomas Boudat (France / Direct Energie) 20
9. Stefan Kueng (Switzerland / BMC Racing) 17
10. Michael Matthews (Australia / Sunweb) 17
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What is hepatitis?
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, which can lead to fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis or liver cancer.
There are 5 main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E.
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People infected with hepatitis C experience few or no symptoms, meaning they can live with the virus for years without being diagnosed. This delay in treatment can increase the risk of significant liver damage.
There are an estimated 170 million carriers of Hepatitis C around the world.
The virus causes approximately 399,000 fatalities each year worldwide, according to WHO.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
More on Quran memorisation:
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Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
