A Peugeot 206 WRC driven in rallying by Marcus Grönholm and Gilles Panizzi is for sale. Introduced in 1999, this car enabled Peugeot to gain the experience that would earn it the title of winning three consecutive world championships thereafter.
With the 206 WRC, Peugeot made a more than remarkable comeback in the world rally championship by winning the title three years in a row, between 2000 and 2002. The lion builder then put an end to Japanese domination (Subaru, Mitsubishi, Toyota) and perpetuated the legend written more than fifteen years earlier with the 205 Turbo 16. One of the first 206 WRCs entered by the brand is currently for sale.
A learning car
The copy for sale dates from 1999, the year in which the 206 WRC took part in its first races. Its chassis bears the number C04; it is still associated with a transverse four-cylinder 2.0 l turbo officially sending 300 hp to all four wheels via a six-speed sequential gearbox installed in the longitudinal position.
The car took part in three rallies as a factory car : in Corsica, Greece and Great Britain, with Marcus Grönholm or Gilles Panizzi at the wheel depending on the event. If two of them ended in withdrawals, the last saw the Frenchman rank seventh across the Channel, at the end of a season of learning which allowed Peugeot and its drivers to chain successes thereafter with in particular two pilot titles for Grönholm.
TO READ. Peugeot Sports. A look back at 40 years of competition
A car that has always raced
Once retired, this 206 WRC was sold to a private team which entered it in several competitions. The car was driven in particular by the Belgian Freddy Loix, holder of more than 40 rally victories. In 2017, it was acquired by Brian Madsen, Peugeot distributor in Denmark, returned to its famous white and blue livery from the 1999 Rally of Great Britain, and subsequently took part in several demonstrations.
The car is currently in Italy with many documents testifying to its history, including manufacturer’s instruction manuals, copies of its homologation papers and pilots’ notes. Girardo & Co offers it for £275,000, or around €330,000.
TO HAVE. World Rally Championship. Back to Group B monsters
