They've surely tested it back-to-back with the C3 and found it's faster.
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It's also newer so longevity probably makes better financial sense.
C3 have homologation valid until 2030. Sure they will still get some updates until then. Don't know for how long will Lancia get their homologation cycle, but probably at least until the whole Rally2 concept will last (as someone said that the class is going towards it's end cycle). Of course it's newer, and they promise it's better, and most probably it will get upgrades, the most money out of Stellantis and it's the works car, so it will surely be good.
More here on the sales orders for the new Lancia Rally2...
https://www.italpassion.fr/en/lancia...-a-single-day/
"Market reaction was immediate. By the end of the day, thirty firm orders had been received. Thirty cars, each invoiced at €268,000 before tax, not including the €41,000 option offered to the most demanding teams. In just a few hours, the new Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale had generated over €8 million in orders..."
Why someone would buy a new Skoda, a new Toyota or a new M-Sport car before test/first delivers? It could happen a fatal conception failure and the car be a disaster...
People buy by be new, by be a Lancia and have dream or support from local dealers or just cause they want.
No, the car is not an evolution of Citroën. The car is new and have know-how of Citroën.
They had firstly Meeke and he destroyed many of their cars. Then they had Ogier and he demanded results straight away and left and then they left claiming there is no one to drive it. And they explicitly demanded alternative power units being in WRC and then left. Cowards. If they would be serious they should come back in 2027. And we would get years of battles which manufacturer would have more titles: Lancia, Toyota or Citroen. Through those years many drivers get capable of challenging for titles and winning events and not just Ogier, but I have a feeling Citroen don't like having hard time by having much competition. Just like VW. Left right before Toyota came and Hyundai getting better (and just tell the world it's the diesel gate they can't participate anymore, while spending way more cash everyelse)