From Paris to Pikes Peak: 7 things you didn’t know about Peugeot motorsports
Though he tried, the winner of the 2023 Pikes Peak International Hillclimb, Robin Shute, didn’t come close to the all-time record of 7:57.148, set in 2018 by Frenchman Romain Dumas in the electric Volkswagen ID.R. Dumas became the first person to beat the eight-minute mark on the mountain and shattered the previous record, set in 2013 by his countryman Sébastian Loeb, driving a seriously wild Peugeot. —Ed.
Peugeot may have quit selling cars in the U.S. in 1973, but the French outfit is no cheese-eating surrender monkey when it comes to motorsports. In fact, Peugeot has been racing for 125 years as of 2020. Here are seven things you probably didn’t know about the lion-hearted brand.
First raced in 1895
A Type 7 Peugeot won the Paris-Bordeaux-Paris race, completing the 731-mile course in 59 hours and 48 minutes.
Owning the early Indy 500
Peugeot won the Indianapolis 500 three times between 1913 and 1919. Frenchman Jules Goux was the first foreigner to win the race in 1913 at an average speed of 75.933 mph. Peugeot was also victorious in 1916 and 1919—despite France being at war.
So good on safari
The fabulous 404 won the East African Safari Rally in 1963, 1966, 1967 and 1968. Its replacement, the 504, won the Safari Rally in 1975 and 1978. Watch current FIA President Jean Todt in action in the 504 above.
Grip on Group B
The 205 T16 wasn’t just one of the best-looking Group B rally cars, it was one of the most successful. In the hands of Timo Salonen and Juha Kankkunen, Peugeot won the World Rally Championship back to back in 1985 and 1986.
Dominating Dakar
In 1987, 1989 and 1990 Peugeot won the Dakar rally with Ari Vatanen driving the 405 T16. It returned to win in 2016 with the 2008DKR, in 2017 and 2018 with the 3008DKR (above), with Carlos Sainz at the wheel.
Three-time Le Mans champs
Peugeot first took the top step of the podium at Le Mans in 1992 with the V-10-powered 905 (above) driven by Derek Warwick, Yannick Dalmas, and Mark Blundell. A year later Peugeot drivers were on every step of the podium. In 2009 Peugeot took a third victory with its 908 HDi FAP.
Peaking in Colorado
In 1988 Peugeot entered the Dakar-winning 405 T16 in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and surprised everyone. Ari Vatanen’s incredible drive, powersliding up the course, wheels perilously close to (and sometimes even over the edge of) the mountain was captured in the beautiful film Climb Dance. Peugeot came back for more the next year, before returning in 2013 and shattering the Unlimited Class record with Sebastien Loeb in a 208 T16.
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Not too bad for a company that started out with peppermills.
Their bicycles were great too.
I like the rally cars the best.
The Brumos Collection has a couple really nice examples, if you ever get the chance, I highly recommend it.
Peugeot sold cars in the US at least till 1984. I drove a 505 Turbo diesel, 4-speed for 216,000 miles.
My brother loved the Peugeot diesels and had them all through the eighties, I drove one and it was as good as the Mercedes at the time.
Harry Miller took lots of ideas from Peugeot when he was hired to fix their dual overhead cam race car engine back in 1920, including the cup type lifters that were used into the 70’s in Offenhauser’s midget and 4 cylinder racing engines.