Stellantis Motorsport recently unveiled the Peugeot 208 Racing, designed to meet the newly introduced FR6 regulations from the Fédération Française du Sport Automobile (FFSA). As the first manufacturer to enter this category, Stellantis hopes to cement its credentials for making motorsport accessible to all.
Drawing on experience gained across projects such as the 208 Rally4 and C3 Rally2, the aim was to create a car capable of propelling up-and-coming young talent as well as more experienced drivers.
Yoann Bonato, five-time French Rally Champion and Stellantis Motorsport development driver, commented, “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.”
Rally driver Léo Rossel added, ‘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.”
According to Stellantis, the 208 Racing allows crews to concentrate on the essentials: the art of driving. To this end, the package has been optimized to give them confidence. For example, the use of high-quality mechanical components in the steering and braking systems, as well as the capability for precise adjustment, ensure a smooth and progressive driving experience. The car is also intended to run on production tires, to help keep costs under control.
The 208 Racing will run exclusively on superethanol-E85 fuel, which will significantly reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 30% according to a study by IFPEN. It will also reduce the fuel budget for competitors (estimated at 40% of gasoline costs compared with SP98, according to the rates in force in France in 2024).
Cost reduction was also front and center when it came to ensuring durability. Stellantis says that the choice of materials, components and production parts for the Peugeot 208 Racing follows the same quality standards applied to its projects in Rally4 and Rally2.
Safety was also a prime concern, as François Wales, customer racing director for Stellantis Motorsport customers, explained: “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.”
The Peugeot 208 Racing is priced at €38,900 (US$42,200) excluding VAT, ready to drive and registered. Orders can be placed now, with deliveries scheduled to start in February 2025.
