February 1990: when Peugeot announced the legendary 905

At a time when Porsche, Jaguar, Toyota et Mercedes compete for endurance victories, another competitor arrives: the manufacturer Peugeot , led by a certain Jean Todt, whose project was a revolutionary racing car, the famous 905. After two years of design, Jean Todt and his team invited journalists to Vélizy on Thursday February 8, 1990, for a presentation of the car .

If Peugeot is not at its first attempt in motor racing, with 16 victories in the world rally championship and 4 world titles (2 drivers and 2 manufacturers), the wish of the lion monarch is to perform in all the competitions.

The PSA presidential double is present, Jacques Calvet and Jean Boillot. For them the objective is clear: to make Peugeot a reference in motorsport, the Lion therefore wants to extend its influence. Jean Todt and his team therefore have significant support in the project, beyond the sporting dimension, the French manufacturer wishes to engage in endurance to measure itself against competitors who prove to be competitors on the automobile market .

« Sport is superior to any marketing action in giving a certain image of a product” according to Jacques Calvet.

The vehicle aims to be at the forefront of progress, with extraordinary aerodynamics, carbon chassis and brakes in collaboration with Dassault, and above all an 10° V80 engine installed longitudinally. Two years of hard work allowed Peugeot to acquire this technical potential, in particular thanks to André de Cortanze, father of the 205 T.16 evolution 1 and 2.

“This 905 is the first in a line of cars that will completely stand out from everything we have seen so far” comments the designer.

Peugeot wanted to quickly test its car, with an official presentation to the general public in July 1990 in Magny-Cours with Jean-Pierre Jabouille. She races for the first time in Canada on the Gilles Villeneuve circuit in Montreal in September. If the jewel of technology has not yet managed to compete with its opponents, Todt and her team have only positive things to say about it.

It was in 1991 that the 905 began to prove itself, at Suzuka it snatched a victory despite some reliability problems. The 1991 edition of 24h of Le Mans is not successful for the Lion since the two 905s abandon along the way, Todt and de Cortanze reshuffle the cards: the objective is to develop the 90 so that it becomes a real endurance car. This is the arrival of the 905 “Evolution Bis 1”.

Successful bet. With a victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, thanks to Yannick Dalmas, Derek Warwick and Mark Blundel coupled with the driver's championship and the manufacturer's championship, the year 1992 turned out to be memorable. Back-to-back and confirmation in 1993 with the historic hat-trick at Le Mans, the 905 entered the pantheon of legendary cars.