Peugeot 206 WRC - Part 2

Peugeot is finally back in the chase for the World Rally Championship title with a car that has real chances of winning, the 206 WRC. After a total domination of the WRC world between 1984 and 1986 with the GroupB car 205 turbo 16 and the 12 year absence from the world scene that followed, the company decided the make a fabulous, but expected, comeback. The 205 turbo 16 car has won 2 WRC titles (1985 and 1986) and scored a total of 21 WRC wins with drivers such as Juha Kankkunen, Ari Vatanen and Timo Salonen (note the preference for Finnish drivers). Peugeot have been very active, during the three year period (since 1995), that preceded their comeback developing the 306 front wheel drive 2lt class kit car that successfully competed in  European championships (the car has won two French championship titles in 1996 and 1997). The 306 Maxi version (which is a 2lt kit car, picture here) has even taken part in tarmac based WRC races (Corsica, Catalunya, Monte Carlo and San Remo) with great success putting many WRC class cars under threat. All this to say that the 12 year absence of Peugeot from World Rallying has not been a period of inactivity. Most of the 205 turbo 16 team members and technical stuff are still with Peugeot. Not surprisingly the person responsible for the 206 WRC project, Jean Pierre Nicolas,  was driving the 205T16 15 years ago. The other members of the project management at Peugeot Sport are François Xavier Delfosse, project leader, Michel Nadan, chief engineer (and ex-TTE engineer), and Xavier Carlotti.

The 206 WRC prototype in late 1998

Like most WRC class cars the Peugeot 206 WRC is based on a large scale production model. All resemblance and similarity stops here however. Whatever Peugeot or anyone else tells you the 206 WRC has no parts in common with the corresponding production model apart from light housings and door handles (and even those parts are probably lightened..).

The FIA regulations allow extensive modifications to WRC class cars that make them radically different from the base model. In the 206 WRC's case the car uses now a full time 4 wheel drive transmission, its engine is turbocharged and has no equivalent in Peugeot's showrooms. Unlike the old GroupB days when Peugeot surprised all the other manufacturers by combining each one's best ideas into one car, the 205T16, (4WD and turbo from Audi, mid-engined space frame  from Lancia, turbo charging from Renault and others, transversal engine and gearbox etc) and made a real winner, these days what differentiates WRC class cars is how elaborate their onboard electronics are. Onboard electronic systems include engine management, differential locking management, suspension management etc. That's the secret of a successful WRC class car. In this field both the data disclosed by Peugeot as well as the performance of the car during the 1999 season were very encouraging regarding the future of the 206 WRC.

The new Peugeot holds yet a lot of secrets concerning details of the 206 WRC project. One thing is for sure, it has looks to die for and is by far the most beautiful WRC contender. The car's body was designed by Gerard Welter and Murat Gunak (ex-Mercedes Benz designer).
Let's review now some of the technical characteristics that have been disclosed by Peugeot.

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