Peugeot powers up to race

The wide-bodied 207 Super 2000 weighs in at around 1100kg.

Peugeot says it will continue its rally campaign now the 207 RCup concept car has flown through its development programme on both loose and tarmac surfaces.

The RCup is a limited European series unofficially slotted in between the 1.6-litre Junior World Rally events and the World Rally Championship.

The concept car was unveiled at the Geneva motor show in March.

The 207 is called the Super 2000 by Peugeot. It is based on the latest 207 but its appearance belies its heritage, with a wide body, roof-top intake and top-mounted rear wing signalling its aggressive potential.

The car, with its naturally aspirated engine, is still under development but it brings some mighty power to the RCup circuit, weighing in around 1100kg with an 80-litre fuel tank.

The 2-litre four-cylinder 16-valve powerplant has been heavily reworked to generate 208kW (280bhp) at 8500rpm to all four wheels via a six-speed sequential gearbox.

It is a horsepower-driven racer - torque sits around 250Nm.

The car is targeted at individual drivers rather than signalling a Peugeot team return to the rally circuit.

The 207 Super 2000 recently fired into life for the first time, watched by Bruno Famin, technical manager of Peugeot Sport, and Bertrand Vallat, project manager for the 207 Super 2000.

It follows in the footsteps of great Peugeot rally cars of old, such as the 205 T16 and the all-conquering 206 WRC, winner of three world rally championships with a total of 65 podium finishes.

Said Vallat: "To start with on the loose surface, the 207 Super 2000 showed a good level of reliability which was confirmed again on tarmac some weeks later."

"We are only at the initial stages of development but all the test drivers who have followed each other behind the wheel of the car have been satisfied with both the handling and performance."