This is the complete story of the Peugeot 205's rallying history,
told in all its glory by expert motoring historian Graham Robson,
as part of the `Rally Giants' series. Four-wheel-drive had been
authorised in rallying from 1979, but for a time no serious
car-manufacturer even tried to harness it to their cars. Although
it was Audi who produced the world's first rally-winning
four-wheel-drive car - the Quattro - it was Peugeot who designed,
developed, campaigned and won with the first truly sophisticated
four-wheel-drive Group B Car - the 205 Turbo 16. It was the first
truly great, purpose-designed, Group B car. Determined to win at
almost any cost, Peugeot hired Jean Todt (who would later transform
the fortunes of the Ferrari F1 organisation) in 1981, and set him
an ambitious target. His dream car had to be running in 1983,
homologated in 1984, and capable of winning World Championships by
1985. Nothing, no excuses and no lack of application, was to get in
the way of that. Apart from being obliged to use the silhouette of
the still-secret new 205 road car, Todt was able ask for anything.
Getting approval for whatever he needed and fast-tracking the
engineering of the four-wheel-drive rally was not an issue in
reaching one simple objective - victory! This book tells the
detailed story of all the cars, the influences, and the
personalities behind a magnificent success story. No sooner had the
new turbocharged, transverse-mid-engined car started competing,
than it was ready to win, yet its dominant career was cut short at
the end of 1986 by an abrupt change in rallying regulations. This
is the engineering story laid out in great detail, as well as the
interaction between company personalities, superstar drivers
(including Ari Vatanen) and the highly-charged atmosphere of
motorsport at this time. Because Group B was cancelled even before
the 205 T16 had reached maturity, it went on to have a successful
career in desert raid rallies, and at Pike Peak in the USA, all of
which is described in this amazingly authoritative study. Packed
with illustrations, technical details, facts, figures and successes
of this innovative car, this book is a must for any rally fan.
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