AUTOart 

Racing Series (collection)
60537 – CITROEN XSARA T4 WRC 2005 Winner Rally MONTE CARLO

Car #1 driven by S. Loeb / D. Elena
Die cast

1/43 scale, approximately 4” long.
Retails for over $44.00

SPECIAL PRICE $29.99

About the Rallye Monte Carlo: Automobile Club de Monaco -  “Rallye De Monte-Carlo”

Since 1911, the Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo is one of the oldest and prestigious in the sport.  This is the first Rallye of the year in the World Rallye Championship (WRC).  Stages run through French Alps were on a top of a very difficult terrain crews need to be ready to sudden, very difficult to predict weather changes.   A stage could start on dry asphalt but this can change in no time to icy road and / or heavy snow.    Generally, stages are tight and twisty goes up and down on slopes of Southern Alps, but they do have very fast stretches.  It gets dark early up in the mountains; and it is very trilling for fans to see bright halogen spotlights screaming into to the view.

FIA restricted rally to the Monaco harbor area (2005 and 2006 or 73^rd and 74^th seasons), however organizers of the Rally Monte Carlo confirmed that in 2007 the rally will return to the “mythical” stages of the French region of Ardeche after FIA gave exemption to the Principality.

The 73^rd Rally Monte Carlo took place in Monaco on 20 – 23 January, 2005.  Rally Surface – Asphalt. In my best knowledge seventeen (17) cars finished the race with Xsara finished in 1^st and 6^th (Car #62) positions; and tan (10) cars retired.  I believe 8 of those due to crash including one Xsara Car #2.   

ABOUT THE CITROEN XSARA

In 2003 Citroen debuted the Xsara with its full WRC season, though the first WRC event for the car was in Spain 2001 and the first WRC win was at Rally Corsica 2002.  The Citroen took the Manufacturers Championship with its drivers Sebastian Loeb finished 2^nd and Carlos Sainz 3^rd.  The Xsara has dominated the 2003 World Rally Championship. In half-way through the season had a lead over the previous year’s Champion Subaru.

4 WD Xsara: Engine – Front-Transverse 4 in line 16 valves 2 overhead Camshaft 1998 cc (3370 if turbocharged) with max power 300 bhp @ 5500 rpm, max torgue 53@4000 rpm (kg/m); Transmission 6 speed sequential; Suspension – Front and Rear MacPherson (Extremetech).  Dimensions in mm/inch L 4167/164.06, W 1770/69.7, H 1390/54.7, Wheelbase 2555/100.6, 

By now (April 2006) Xsara has 27 wins at WRC including 2003, 2004 and 2005 Rally Monte Carlo, all these three wins belong to S. Loeb.

ABOUT THE MODEL AND THE MODEL MAKER
This is a great model ended, superbly done, and very accurate, with tons of details. Model featuring a full rally interior including a spare tire and a rear wing. Turn the model over to see fully covered by protective shields underbody, just like the real car, plus front wheels are turn able.
Is it difficult to imagine for a model in 1/43 scale? But it is the truth! Unbelievably highly detailed models from any aspect. Packed in an attractive box with its own acrylic display case.
If you would like to know what they say about their product, please read below. Personally, as a collector, I just love their models. I truly believe that AUTOart is really delivers what they are promising.

“Welcome to the world of AUTOart, a world of excellence in modelmaking. We have made it our business to think small. From the heritage class to the performance thoroughbred, our model cars are perfect replicas in miniature. Produced through the application of cutting-edge technology to the modelmaker’s art. The result is a new attention to detail in both form and colour. AUTOart. Models you can believe in.”

“The 1/43 scale replica is probably the oldest scale in the world of automotive miniatures. There are many companies involved in the production of this size scale that offer products that range from “world class” to something less than wonderful!”