In Quarantine with AUTOhebdo – Peugeot Sport under the Jacques Calvet era

There was the company captain between 1982 and 1997 who led the ship Peugeot – Citroën and revived a group hit hard by the crises. But under the presidency of Jacques Calvet, the competition department of the Lion brand, then headed by Jean Todt, also experienced some of its finest hours.

Group B

If the very beginning of the adventure of the one that would become the Peugeot 205 T16 began a little before the arrival of Jacques Calvet at the helm of the French group, it was in 1983 that the Lioness with four-wheel drive and a central rear engine was launched. presented.

The Jean-François Piot Trophy constitutes a major rehearsal before seeing the first official release of the car in WRC in 1984 at the Tour de Corse, where Jean-Pierre Nicolas took 4th place. The end of the year saw Ari Vatanen string together three successes in Finland, at Sanremo and at the RAC, giving a glimpse of an interesting next campaign.

In 1985, the raid could begin. And the recital begins with a Rally Monte-Carlo remained in everyone's memory, with the incredible comeback of Ari Vatanen in the Audi Quattro Sport of Walter Röhrl, the latter having taken the lead after a pointing error by Terry Harryman causing a heavy penalty to the crew of the 205 T16 n°2.

This was followed by a 5th victory in a row for Vatanen in Sweden, before Timo Salonen took over, Vatanen coming very close to death in a terrible accident in Argentina.

In 1986, Peugeot won its first double with the Drivers' and Manufacturers' titles, aiming for the same scenario. With a T16 in Evolution 2 version, launched in Corsica the previous year, Timo Salonen will however have to cede his crown to a new recruit who will write a long and victorious page in the history of the WRC: Juha Kankkunen.

But a season once again marked by drama. After the death of Atilio Bettega in Corsica in 1985, Lancia Martini Racing was again struck to the heart with the tragic disappearance of the “little Prince” Henri Toivonen, also in Corsica. The FIA ​​announces the abrupt end of Group B, forcing Peugeot Sport to review its plans. They will go through Africa and the Dakar.

The Dakar

In a revised version called Grand Raid to meet the constraints of the tracks and the African desert, the Peugeot 205 T16 returns to business, with Ari Vatanen in the role of conductor.

The Finn, returning to competition after his accident in 1985, continued the preparation tests to be able to take the start in 1987. After a disastrous Prologue with a suspension problem, Ari recovered and flew to victory.

In 1988, with the 405 T16, the Finn was the arch-favorite to score the double. But his car was stolen in Bamako and it was Juha Kankkunen who finally won with the 205 T16.

In 1989 and 1990, Vatanen won twice with the 405. It was then time for Peugeot Sport to turn to a new adventure with sports cars and Group C, in the meantime capturing Pikes Peak with the 405.

The 905 has in fact been in the Lion's boxes for several months, and Citroën will take over in Rally-Raid with the ZX Grand-Raid, just as victorious as its big sisters 205 T16 and 405 T16.

Group C and the 24 Hours of Le Mans

It was in 1990 that the 905 began, the project having been presented two years earlier. After a year of learning in 1991, Peugeot Sport appeared in a strengthened position at the start of the 1992 Sports-Proto World Championship.

The French brand won five of the six races, including a first success at the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the Blundell – Dalmas – Warwick team. Jean Todt's men would do even better in Sarthe in 1993 with a magnificent hat-trick led by Christophe Bouchut – Eric Hélary – Geoff Brabham.

La F1

After the rally, the rally-raid, the endurance, the logical continuation was F1. Without Jean Todt, who left to lead the Team Ferrari in 1993, the Lion brand arrived in the premier discipline in 1994 as engine manufacturer of the prestigious team McLaren.

Despite podiums for Mika Häkkinen and Martin Brundle, the mayonnaise did not take hold and the association was interrupted after just one season.

It was with Jordan that Peugeot continued its F1 adventure for three seasons. Here again, no success but several podiums for Rubens Barrichello, Eddie Irvine, Giancarlo Fisichella and Ralf Schumacher.

In 1998, the marriage with Cheers GP, to form a team offering French engine and chassis, is sealed. But the duo will never reach the top. Only Jarno Trulli won a second place at the 1999 European Grand Prix.

A first global adventure which will be renewed in the years 2000 – 2010 on a fairly similar pattern with the WRC and the Peugeot 206, then 307, the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the 908, then the Dakar with the 2008 and 3008 DKR.