All are established drivers in the Global Rallycross championship, with Grönholm currently leading the series in points.
Loeb will be driving a specially-prepared Citröen DS3 dubbed the XL that makes about 245 horsepower more than the WRC version of the car, at about 545. It also makes more than twice the torque, at an astonishing 590lb-ft. It is said to accelerate from 0 to 62mph in just 2.4 seconds. The engine in the XL displaces 2.0 liters rather than the WRC car's 1.6, however. The XL designation doesn't reflect the larger engine, but instead stands for X-Games and Loeb.
The car, prepared by Hansen Motorsport, doesn't have a passenger seat for a co-driver and there is no need to carry a spare tire for the sprint-type rallycross competition. It is therefore required to change up its weight distribution, with the radiator being relocated to the hatch, behind the driver. The car also has cooling vents in the rear quarter panels and hatch.
The car will have to withstand the stresses of jumping and landing a distance of as much as 66 feet at the Gilbert Lindsay Plaza. The event kicks off on June 29.
"Rallycross here in Europe provides some very spectacular racing, but the American version seems to be even more extreme," Loeb said. "So, I didn't need to be asked twice when the opportunity arose to race against drivers like Marcus Grönholm in a 545bhp Citroën DS3!"Â
