Peugeot set to win Le Mans 24 with diesels.

[conan]

14.6.2005

Le Mans 24 hours: Peugeot puts HDi power and particulate filter technology on pole

In perfect keeping with its values, which include dynamism and innovation, Peugeot is to take up a new technological challenge with a view to winning the Le Mans 24 Hours with an HDi diesel-powered car equipped with a diesel particulate filter system (DPFS).

The history of the make has always been actively associated with world class motor sport and its record features a long list of wins and titles, both in rallying and in circuit racing across the globe.

When it first announced its intention to withdraw from the World Rally Championship at the end of 2005, Peugeot underlined its determination to pursue its policy of competing at the highest level and has decided on an innovative objective: victory in the celebrated Le Mans 24 Hours with a diesel-powered car.

While this new programme will focus on the great French endurance classic, it will also take in the five rounds of the Le Mans Endurance Series (Spa, Monza, Silverstone, Nürburgring and Istanbul).

The Le Mans 24 Hours has always stood out as a pitiless test-bed when it comes to validating technological breakthroughs that can be carried over to road cars. It is also a race that enjoys outstanding media coverage and last year''''s event, which attracted a crowd of more than 200,000 spectators, was broadcast to 228 million television viewers worldwide.

Once the programme''''s feasibility has been confirmed in the early part of 2006, Peugeot Sport will begin development work on the chassis and engine in close collaboration with PSA Peugeot Citroën''''s Engineering Department, the expertise of which in the realm of diesel technology is universally recognised.

The new car will run for the first time at the end of the same year, which means Peugeot will begin racing it in 2007.

"This is an extremely stimulating new challenge and I am convinced it will generate considerable interest throughout our staff and across our sales networks. I hope this ambitious yet completely achievable project will provide us with a fresh opportunity to demonstrate our ability to win," declared Frédéric Saint-Geours, Managing Director of Automobiles Peugeot.



A SUMMARY OF PEUGEOT''''S COMPETITION RECORD

1895 Victory for a Type 7 Peugeot in the Paris-Bordeaux-Paris road race.

1913, 1916, 1919 Three Peugeot wins in the Indianapolis 500.

1963, 1966, 1967, 1968 Four wins for the Peugeot 404 in the East African Safari.

1975 Victory for the Peugeot 504 in the Safari, Morocco and Bandama (Ivory Coast) Rallies.

1976 Victory for the Peugeot 504 in the Morocco Rally and for the 504 V6 Coupe in the Bandama Rally.

1978 Victory for the Peugeot 504 V6 Coupe in the Safari and Ivory Coast Rallies.

1985 & 1986 Peugeot wins two Manufacturers'''' World Rally Championship titles with the 205 Turbo 16 and two Drivers'''' titles.

1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 Four wins for Peugeot in the Paris-Dakar Rally, initially with the 205 Turbo16, then with the 405 Turbo16.

1992 Peugeot wins the Sportscar World Championship with the 905. Victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours.

1993 A landmark 1-2-3 finish for the Peugeot 905 in the Le Mans 24 Hours.

1994 Peugeot wins the French Supertouring Car Championship with the 405.

1996 & 1997 Two consecutive titles for Peugeot drivers in the French Rally Championship with the 306 Maxi.

1997 Peugeot wins the German Touring Car Drivers'''' Championship with the 406.

2000, 2001, 2002 Three consecutive Manufacturers'''' World Rally Championship titles with the 206 WRC, plus two Drivers'''' titles.

2004 Peugeot wins the French Supertouring Car Championship with the 406 Silhouette Coupe.



THE HISTORY OF PEUGEOT AND DIESEL ENGINES

1959 The 403 becomes the first production car of the make to be sold with a diesel engine.

1965 A special diesel-powered 404 single-seater beats forty world records round the banked circuit at Montlhéry, near Paris.

1967 Peugeot launches the world''''s smallest diesel engine (1,200 cc) in a 204 Estate at the Paris Motorshow.

1979 The 604 Turbo Diesel is the first car of its type on the European market.

1996 The 406 is the make''''s first car to benefit from a common-rail HDi diesel engine.

2000 World first: the 607 is the first car to be equipped with an HDi engine fitted with a diesel particulate filter system.

2003 Peugeot launches the RC Cup, a single-make formula based on the RC Carreau concept car powered by an HDi diester-fuelled engine with a diesel particulate filter system.

2005 By the end of June, Peugeot will have reached sales of more than 900,000 vehicles equipped with a diesel particulate filter system.