New Peugeot 208 Racing is perfect throwback
Front-drive, manual, 145hp, 1,050kg, steelies, £32k. But obviously it's not meant for us
It is simultaneously depressing and encouraging that cars like the Peugeot 208 Racing still exist. Encouraging because a more affordable route into motorsport - in this case, entry-level rallying - is always welcome, and especially when it’s very closely related to an existing B-segment road car. And depressing because it proves that manufacturers retain all the knowledge and wherewithal to build interesting, lightweight cars at minimal cost, but are denied (or at the very least, heavily dissuaded) from seizing the opportunity to sell them more broadly. Peugeot calls the Racing ‘a radical product’, mostly because it’s the first of its type. But the concept isn’t radical, it’s just made to seem that way by the supermini dreariness that currently surrounds it.
The thinking behind the car and its new class is simple enough. Rallying has always depended on amateur entries for its life-blood, and the Fédération Française du Sport Automobile (FFSA) wants more of them. Thus it has created the FR6 class in France, which pares back the requirements for entry to what seems like the bare minimum. Insofar as is possible (or prudent) original parts are retained, including, amazingly, the standard tyres. Obviously there are some significant adjustments - not least the multi-point roll cage inside - but there is also the enlivening combination of PSA’s 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbocharged engine, a unit that Peugeot has raced extensively, and a standard six-speed, short-ratio manual.
Depending on spec, and running exclusively on superethanol E85 fuel with a race-spec ECU and loom, this gives you around 145hp. Which ought to be just the right amount with an unladen weight of 1,050kg. Peugeot Sport says it has all the attributes ‘needed to acquire, perfect and master driving techniques: heel-toe, trail braking, load transfer, slip angle, and much more’ - and if it’s anything like the front-drive hatchbacks it used to breathe on, we fully believe it. The firm talks about fine-tuning the suspension and brakes, including the ‘precise adjustment of the ground linkage’ for a more progressive response, and doubtless the car encompasses lessons learned in Rally2 and Rally4, but otherwise there is no mention of trick chassis parts. So it’s just you and a set of Michelin Pilot Sport PS5 tyres.
Accordingly, there is no lack of safety features. Alongside the roll cage you get an automatic fire suppression system and the obligatory circuit breaker inside. There are no pictures of the interior, but its maker suggests it shares much with the Rally4, which ought to mean proper seats and the usual bare-shell vibe, albeit while retaining much of the original dash. The cars are assembled in the Stellantis Motorsport workshops and are available to order now ahead of the first running of the FR6 Trophy in France next year, which ought to see a field of relative novices go head-to-head in their cheap-to-run 208s. How cheap? Well, Peugeot says the 208 Racing costs €38,900 (or about £32k) excluding VAT. Which, of course, in motorsport terms, is pocket money. Now if only we could convince Peugeot to exchange the livery for a Rallye badge...
A shame this is France-only, but I suspect there will be interest from other European countries. It would be nice to see them in the UK, but Motorsport UK won't support it. Too busy fannying about in their new HQ at Bicester sadly.
TX.
TX.
But how could it be road legal without airbags, ADAS, etc?
What are the advantages of the FR6 class?
The main advantages of this new class are based on:
- An affordable vehicle price facilitating access to the competition;
- Reduced mileage cost thanks to standard tires and parts to limit maintenance costs;
- Enhanced safety with an original shell equipped with an approved multi-point roll bar (RC4 type).
In 2025, the FR6 FFSA Trophy will be contested on Peugeot 208 Racing, the first car homologated in this class. This new car, accessible in both price and ease of use, is aimed at both beginner and more experienced amateur drivers, and will allow them to progress to more demanding competitions. The FR6 class remains open to other cars that comply with its regulations, in order to offer even more options to enthusiasts and facilitate access to the competition for as many people as possible.
Why participate in the FR6 Trophy?
This is THE new opportunity for amateur pilots! The goal?
Rise among the best and secure a place in the grand Final of the French Rally Cup in 2025 in Lisieux.
How do qualifications work?
The qualifying period will run from April to September 2025. Participants will be able to qualify by taking part in rallies close to home. Metropolitan France has thus been divided into several zones in order to allow for broad participation throughout the territory.
North-East : Hauts-de-France, Grand Est, Burgundy Franche-Comté
North-West : Brittany, Pays de Loire, Normandy, Île-de-France, Centre-Val de Loire
South-East : Rhône-Alpes, Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur, Occitanie Mediterranean
South-West : Occitanie Pyrenees, New Aquitaine South, New Aquitaine North, Auvergne
Corsica
In each zone, a selection of 6 rallies will be proposed and the 5 best results will be retained. The Corsica Zone will respond to specific provisions. Also, a DROM-COM zone has been defined with its own provisions.
How does the Final go?
The five best drivers from each zone (two for Corsica and the best for the DROM-COM) will meet for a final battle during the French Rally Cup Final in Lisieux. No calculations, all qualified drivers leave with a point counter reset to zero!
What are the prizes for the winners?
Beyond participating in this Trophy and the Grand Final, it is the opportunity to discover a higher class.
In 2025, two categories were defined:
Hope: for drivers aged 25 or under, the winner will win a steering wheel allowing them to participate in a minimum of four rallies in 2026 with a Rally4 as part of the Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup France.
Expert: for drivers aged 26 and over, the winner will win a participation in a round of the 2026 French Rally Championship, with a Rally4.
How to register?
Registrations will be made on the FFSA website.
But how could it be road legal without airbags, ADAS, etc?
Also Peugeot persist with their small steering wheel. It's an immediate deal breaker for me and no doubt other people - I can't see half the dials with the wheel set in a position that is comfortable for me.
But how could it be road legal without airbags, ADAS, etc?
Merely having number plates, headlights, indicators and tyres not wider than bodywork no longer suffices.
Hence the duration of the event / exemption / SVA thang.
Might be different for non-WRC classes, mind? #BringBackGroupN
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff