The WR content of IC10 - first detection of WC9 stars in a low metallicityenvironment?

We present deep, narrow-hand photometry of the Local Group starburst galaxy IC10. Our dedicated photometric system provides detection of 13 new Wolf-R ayet (WR) stars and allows spectral subtypes to be assigned. Three of these new stars appear to be WC9 subtypes. If confirmed, these would be the very first WC9 stars ever detected in a low metallicity environment, hence putt ing strong new constraints on the formation and evolution models of massive stars. Eight of the new WR stars are of the WC subtype, which does not sig nificantly modify the anomalously high WC/WN ratio in IC10. However it is l ikely that a number of Wolf-Rayet stars of the WNE and WC spectral subtypes are still to be discovered in the heart of the galaxy.