Peugeot apresenta 208 preparado para competições amadoras

Comunicado de prensa de Stellantis Motorsport

Stellantis Motorsport unveils the Peugeot 208 Racing

Stellantis Motorsport unveils the Peugeot 208 Racing, an innovative vehicle designed to comply with the introduction of FR6 regulations by the Fédération Française du Sport Automobile (FFSA). As the first manufacturer to enter this category, Stellantis Motorsport is reaffirming its ambition to make motorsport accessible to all, without compromising on safety, quality and performance. Developed in collaboration with experienced drivers and tested under demanding conditions, the 208 Racing embodies the fundamental values of Stellantis Motorsport: dynamism, accessibility and driving pleasure. A genuine racing car, it is equally suited to young talent and experienced drivers.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE PEUGEOT 208 RACING

The Stellantis Motorsport technical team has mobilised all its expertise to make the Peugeot 208 Racing an exemplary model. Technicians, engineers and mechanics have applied methods that have proved their worth in the development of models such as the 208 Rally4, the C3 Rally2 and the 208 Racing Cup. The lion has covered many kilometres in tests, in a wide variety of conditions, to ensure its reliability and durability.

The development of the Peugeot 208 Racing has involved, at every stage, top-level drivers such as Yoann Bonato, Léo Rossel, Alexandre Bengué, Teddy and Jimmy Clairet, as well as the Jordan Berfa - Bastien Dumas team. Their feedback and expertise in fine-tuning have defined a handling and driving experience suited to all types of driver, whether more or less experienced. The Peugeot 208 Racing is developed by drivers, for drivers. Yoann Bonato, five-time French Rally Champion and Stellantis Motorsport development driver, says: “The Peugeot 208 Racing is an easy car to drive, very dynamic and a lot of fun. It's suitable for drivers of all profiles, and I've always enjoyed driving it during my development sessions.” And Léo Rossel adds: ‘It's a real rally car, which gives you a feeling of safety and allows you to concentrate on driving and note-taking. I would have loved to have made my rally debut with the Peugeot 208 Racing.”

With this project, Stellantis Motorsport reaffirms its long-term commitment to the development of motorsport, making competition more accessible without sacrificing quality and safety.

ACCESSIBILITY:

Accessibility has always been a core value at Stellantis Motorsport. From development to customer support, every one of our departments and employees works to make motorsport more affordable.

More affordable, in terms of driving.

Inspired by its illustrious predecessors, the Peugeot 208 Racing allows crews to concentrate on the essentials: the art of driving. The latest model to emerge from the Peugeot Sport workshops has all the attributes needed to acquire, perfect and master driving techniques: heel-toe, trail braking, load transfer, slip angle, and much more.

The Stellantis Motorsport development teams have optimised every detail to give the crew confidence. The use of top-quality standard mechanical components in the steering and braking systems, as well as the precise adjustment of the ground linkage, ensure a smooth and progressive driving experience. What's more, the standard Michelin Pilot Sport PS5 tyres, fitted as standard on the Peugeot 208 Racing, easily reach their performance range and deliver smooth, efficient handling.

The use of standard tyres, a distinctive and differentiating choice, is also motivated by a strong desire to reduce operating costs.

More affordable, by reducing costs.

Stellantis Motorsport is constantly innovating to make our shared passion more accessible. Peugeot 208 Racing will run exclusively on superethanol-E85 fuel, which will significantly reduce CO2 emissions, estimated at 30% according to a study by IFPEN, as well as significantly reducing the petrol budget (estimated at 40% of petrol costs compared with SP98, according to the rates in force in France in 2024).

Cost reduction is also expressed in an approach focused on durability. Reliability is the foundation of all performance, as the famous saying goes: ‘To finish first, first you have to finish’. The choice of materials, components and production parts for the Peugeot 208 Racing follows the exacting quality standards applied to Stellantis Motorsport projects in Rally4 and Rally2, which are acclaimed the world over. The 3-cylinder turbo engine, carried over to 208 Racing, is one of the most reliable and economical on the competition market. Taken together, each of these choices has resulted in a modern, new, race-ready car offering the best value for money to date.

At Stellantis Motorsport, accessibility will never rhyme with renunciation.

SAFETY: We don't compromise on safety. A key concern from the very first sketches of the project, the approach to safety of the Peugeot 208 Racing crews stands out and capitalises on the safety features deployed in the Peugeot 208, Opel Corsa and Lancia Ypsilon Rally4. François Wales, Customer Racing Director for Stellantis Motorsport customers, explains: ‘We have chosen to equip the Peugeot 208 Racing with the best safety standard available in two-wheel drive rallying, namely that of the FIA Rally4 regulations: the roll cage is welded, Rally4 type, and the fire safety protocol in the passenger compartment complies with Rally4, with three automatic triggering systems including a 360° nozzle’.

What's more, the Peugeot 208 Racing has been developed on one of the Stellantis Group's common B-segment platforms. It therefore benefits from the applied expertise of its engineers, years of Research and Development and the considerable progress made on the chassis of production vehicles.

Assembled in the Stellantis Motorsport workshops in France, the Peugeot 208 Racing complies with specifications and manufacturing standards of the highest order.

DYNAMISM: Accessible and safe, the Peugeot 208 Racing is nonetheless a genuine racing car. In the cockpit, the crew is immersed in a resolutely motorsport environment that incorporates the technologies of the cars in the higher categories, particularly Rally4: dashboard optimised to avoid reflections, multi-page dashboard display, circuit breaker and central console with controls. In addition, the Peugeot 208 Racing is equipped with a competition electronic architecture, comprising an ECU and a loom. As well as offering improvements in terms of simplicity and reliability, this architecture makes it possible to acquire and analyse data, which is now essential for improving a driver's performance.

With a turbocharged engine developing 145* horsepower and a total unladen weight of just 1,050 kilograms, the Peugeot 208 Racing is a convincing performer. Turn after turn, the driver will appreciate the wide range of use of its torquey engine and the standard six-speed manual gearbox with short ratio. They will also appreciate the fine-tuning of the braking and suspension systems by Stellantis Motorsport. With its agile performance on its favourite playing fields, the Peugeot 208 Racing provides thrills and driving pleasure for anyone who dares to get behind the wheel.

*Depending on the version, engine power may vary.

THEY SAID…

François Wales, Stellantis Motorsport Customer Racing Director: “The entire Stellantis Motorsport customer racing team is proud to present the Peugeot 208 Racing and to have succeeded in meeting this challenge, which is innovative in several respects. We have integrated a global approach into our methods, including eco-design and environmental performance criteria in the choice of materials and parts. The Peugeot 208 Racing is an accomplished product that makes no concessions in terms of safety and performance, while remaining accessible. It is a versatile product, suitable for rally use, and its use on the racetrack is currently being finalised. We're convinced of its future success. ”

Mayeul Tyl, Racing Shop Manager, Stellantis Motorsport: “The launch of the Peugeot 208 Racing is the latest application of our customer-focused strategy. It's a radical product, in its approach to accessibility by reducing running costs to a minimum and making it easy to handle. And in its approach to safety, which meets FIA standards for an entry-level vehicle. The Peugeot 208 Racing joins the Stellantis Motorsport product range and will benefit from the rigour and expertise of all our departments, particularly on the technical side.”