Peugeot 208 R2 and R4T versions ( Motorsports)

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PEUGEOT SPORT’S 2012 CUSTOMER COMPETITION PROGRAMME


Around the world, in circuit racing and in rallying at national, regional and club levels, there is invariably a Peugeot on the entry list. The Customer Competition Department is one of the cornerstones of Peugeot Sport’s activities and that tradition is poised to continue in 2012. The launches of two news cars – the RCZ and 208 – are set make the headlines this year.

RCZ Peugeot Sport: 50 cars (Europe)

With 250hp under the bonnet, mated to a sequential gearbox with steering wheel-mounted paddle-shift levers, plus stunning, feline looks, the RCZ Peugeot Sport has already generated significant interest.

In France, the RCZ Racing Cup championship is due to kick off in April (see calendar). More than 20 cars will start the series, with teams like Sainteloc, PH Sport and JSB Competition expected to figure among the favourites.

In Germany, a number of RCZ Peugeot Sports will contest the VLN, as well as the Nürburgring 24 Hours thanks to the ‘endurance’ kit which is also available.

France: Ledenon/GT Tour (April 29), Pau/Grand Prix de Pau (May 13), Val de Vienne/GT Tour (June 24), Magny Cours/GT Tour (July 15), Le Mans/ACO (September 30), Le Castellet/GT Tour (October 2.

Nürburgring 24 Hours: May 19-20.

R2 and R4T versions of the 208 (world motorsport)

Following in the footsteps of the celebrated 205, 206 and 207, two competition versions of the Peugeot 208 stand out currently as the development priorities for the technical team of Peugeot Sport’s Customer Competition Department. The ‘diminutive’, feisty R2 is an indispensable part of the line-up will spearhead this drive. The 208 R2 – which turned a wheel for the first time at the end of 2011 – is an ideally affordable yet competitive solution for novices and for anyone who goes rallying for fun. From 2013, it will replace the 207 R3 as the star of France’s ‘Volant’ series. Although currently only at the beginning of its development phase, it should deliver a power output of some 185 horsepower once all the evolutions have been made to its 1.6-litre, normally-aspirated engine.

This powerplant will drive through a sequential gearbox with a steering wheel-mounted gear shift lever, and the newcomer will also be lighter than its predecessor. A test programme of 8,000km on gravel and tarmac is planned before the car goes on sale in the course of 2012.


Another eagerly awaited version of the 208 is the R4T which is currently at the design stage at Peugeot Sport’s Customer Competition Department. It will comply with the latest FIA regulations and will be ready to take over from Peugeot Sport’s best-selling rally car ever – the 207 S2000 – from the first quarter of 2013.

More than one hundred 207 S2000s sold worldwide

The beginning of the year was marked by the sale of the one-hundredth 207 S2000. In the space of a single month, six more cars have been sold since.

The 207 S2000 will be active in a long list of national championships thanks to programmes run by local Peugeot subsidiaries and privateer teams. The car continues to be considered a benchmark and will also be seen in the European Rally Championship, on certain rounds of the World Rally Championship, the IRC and the Middle East Championship. Germain Bonnefils, winner of the 2011 ‘Volant 207’, will contest the French gravel championship in a 207 S2000. Other top cars will be seen on France’s asphalt championship.

The 207 S2000 Evolution+ now figures in the Peugeot Sport catalogue at the same price as the former version. Indeed, it is the only version currently available and its specification includes the very latest developments:

- wide tracks and bodywork kit

- 3B-spec engine

The ‘Volant 207’ series and ‘Rencontres Peugeot Sport’ meetings

Peugeot’s two feeder series – the ‘Volant 207’ in rallying and the ‘Rencontres Peugeot Sport’ in circuit racing – have both been running for more than 30 years. The former has revealed a long list of top French drivers in the past, and this year’s calendar features another mix of gravel and asphalt rounds.

Volant 207 calendar: Rallye du Touquet (March 16-17), Rallye Terre des Causses (March 30-April 1), Rallye Terre d’Auxerre (April 21-22), Rallye Lloret -Terre de Catalunya (May 26-27), Rallye des Vins-Mâcon (June 16-17), Rallye Terre de Lozère – Sud de France (August 31-September 1), Rallye Cardabelles Millau Aveyron (October 12-14), Rallye du Var (November 23-25).

The success of Peugeot Sport’s ‘Rencontres’ meetings is founded on the popularity of the former Simca Racing Team and PTS series. This year, it will provide some 300 drivers with an opportunity to race each other in one of four competitions: the ‘THP Spider Cup’ and ‘Coupe 207 THP’, plus the ‘Relais 207’ and ‘Relais 206’ relay races.

Rencontres Peugeot Sport: Magny Cours (March 31/April 1), Nogaro (April 21-22), Val de Vienne (May 5-6), Albi (June 9-10), Ledenon (September 15-16).

Contacts

Peugeot Sport Customer Competition Department: Frédéric Bertrand

Racing Shop: Laurent Guyot

RCZ Racing Cup France: Pascal Giral

Volant 207: Jean-Marc Vinatier

Rencontres Peugeot Sport: Pascal Giral


Peugeot Sport: www.peugeot-sport.com

Peugeot Sport Media: www.peugeot-media.com

Peugeot Sport on Facebook: www.facebook.com/peugeot.sport

Peugeot Sport on Twitter: www.twitter.com/peugeotsport

Racing Shop: http://www.peugeotsport-racingshop.com/

RCZ Peugeot Sport: http://rcz.peugeot-sport.com

RCZ Racing Cup: http://www.rczracingcup.com

Rencontres Peugeot Sport: http://www.peugeot-rps.com/



PEUGEOT SPORT

3 rue Marcel Dassault

78143 VELIZY

France

Tel: +33 1 30 70 22 00

Peugeot-Media

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