Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak is Built to Take Pikes Peak Record

PeugeotPeugeotFrance, 1882 > present120 models
3839 photos
7 videos
has finally revealed the 208 T16 Pikes Peak that Sebastien Loeb will pilot up Pikes Peak in the Unlimited class. Peugeot is hoping to break the 9:46.164 record that Rhys Millen set in a modified Hyundai Genesis CoupeHyundai Genesis CoupéRepublic of Korea, 2013 > present6 photos
last year.

The 208 T16 and Loeb will both be experiencing Pikes Peak for the first time, and it will be Peugeot's first time in the race since 1989. The 208 T16 is made completely out of carbon fiber, but beyond that Peugeot is not saying much about the car. It will reveal the car's tech specs at a later time, it says. The Unlimited class means that they are free to perform whatever modifications it wants, as long as the car is safe. 

The Total and Red Bull livery shown on the car is not final, according to Peugeot. It will be different when the car competes. 

“Its proportions are very different to those of the production 208. This difference gives it an almost beast-like appearance. Peugeot Sport provided us with a number of technical constraints, such as the width, body height, location of the wheels and engine, and we worked to this brief to produce an extreme take on the 208," said Michael Trouvé who designed the body.

The Peugeot 208 T16 nearly did not get made. Peugeot Sport proposed the project in November but did not get the okay to build the car until February. The rear wing was taken directly from the Peugeot 908Peugeot 908France, 2011 > present3 photos
prototype racer.

Peugeot will have some stiff competition this year. Hyundai has confirmed that it is building a Genesis Coupe for the Unlimited class. There is also the insane LoveFab car that will attempt to set a new record. 

The hill climb will be held from June 24-30, but only the runs on the 30th, which is the official race day, will count towards breaking the record. The rest of the days are for practice and set-up. The course has 156 corners over 12.42 miles (19.988km) and 4,720ft (1.439km) of elevation change.

Peugeot set a new record up the mountain in 1988 in the 405Peugeot 405France, 1987 > present22 versions
21 photos
T16 with Ari Vatanen behind the wheel, and Robby Unser won the event in 1989 for Peugeot.