MORE than a decade after twice winning the world rally championship, Peugeot has returned to the sport with its dramatic looking 206 World Rally Car.

Developed alongside the successful range of Peugeot 206 passenger cars, the 206 WRC was tested for the first time in this year's Corsican rally.

The 206 WRC uses many components derived from the road car including the main structure, front chassis and suspension, engine block and cylinder head.

Power output from the 2.0-litre, 16-valve engine is increased to 300 horsepower. All four wheels are driven through a six-speed sequential gearbox.

The 206 WRC's debut in the Tour de Corse marks Peugeot's return to a sport in which it has excelled.

In the 1980s, the 205 T16 dominated, scoring world rally championship victories in 1985 and 1986 and was twice winner of the Paris-Dakar endurance rally in 1987 and 1988.

Success continued in the early 1990s for the 405 T16 and more recently the 306 Maxi carried off two French rally championships and achieved second place on the famous Monte Carlo rally.

To comply with international rallying regulations Peugeot will be building a total of 4,000 road going cars to the same overall dimensions of the 206 WRC. Six hundred will be right hand drive.

The £15,695 metallic silver cars will be badged 206 Grand Tourisme and will be powered by Peugeot's new 2.0-litre 16-valve petrol engine soon to be introduced in the 206 GTi. Driving through a five-speed manual gearbox, the GT is capable of 129 mph.

Story date: Wednesday 12 May

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