PEUGEOT, the team that dominated the World Rally Championship in the 80's, is to re-enter the Championship towards the middle of 1999 with a new Peugeot 206 WRC.

Peugeot were WRC Construction and Driver Champions in 1985 and 1986, with the Peugeot 205 T16, as well as winners of the Paris-Dakar Rally in 1987 and 1988.

The 206 WRC has been developed from existing components of the road going 206, such as the body structure and materials, engine block and cylinder head, whilst retaining its wheelbase dimensions. The overall length is increased from 3.83m to 4m, and increase of 17cm, featuring a new front moulding.

The structure gets a safety cage and the entire body, as well as the doors and the wings, are made from sheet steel. The car has a front 'spoiler' and a rear wing located on the tailgate.

As far as the mechanics are concerned, the maximum size of the four cylinder engine is 2000cm. It is turbocharged and is a 16 valve twin overhead camshaft design. The diameter of the air intake is fixed, by the rules, to 34mm. An air intake cooler is fitted.

The vehicle has four-wheel drive, a six-speed sequential gearbox and three controlled differentials.

The front chassis and suspension are from the 206 road car, ie pseudo MacPherson suspension with decoupled anti-roll bar. At the back, there is a new suspension, also a pseudo MacPherson suspension with anti-roll bar. The vehicle has ventilated disc brakes on all wheels and rack and pinion power steering.

Twenty of these competition cars will have to be constructed so that the 206 WRC can be homologated and officially entered into competition in the World Rally Championships towards the middle of 1999.

For further information on the Peugeot range, contact Wirral's No. 1 Peugeot dealer, Hall Motors, New Chester Road, Birkenhead. Phone 647-3969.

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