Fresh from its success on the Dakar Rally, Team Peugeot Total is now aiming for the top in a brand-new adventure: the FIA World Rallycross Championship. To celebrate its first year in this spectacular and competitive sport as a full factory entry, the Peugeot Sport team is preparing a 2018 version of the Peugeot 208 WRX, which has already shown plenty of potential in rallycross since making its competitive debut in 2014.
There will be three Team Peugeot Total official drivers on the 12-round World RX this year: the legendary nine-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb, rallycross front-runner Timmy Hansen and his fearless younger brother Kevin Hansen. The Swedes both represent the “next generation” – part of the most successful family dynasty in the history of the sport – and will benefit from Loeb’s driving experience.
While Sebastian and Timmy will get to drive the new-specification 2018 car, Kevin will stick with an evolution of the 2017 car. The developments that will be brought to the latest-generation 560-horsepower 208 WRX are designed to make it more powerful and driveable. Not only is it faster and lighter, but it’s also easier to drive, with a more reactive feel and better torque.
The Peugeot Sport engineering team has worked intensively on aerodynamics to increase performance, with the car featuring a new wing and a new rear bumper from the start of the year. Mechanically, apart from engine evolutions, the new car also has revised front suspension, dampers and bigger wheels, as well as a faster gearshift and new roll cage.
The result is a visually striking rallycross challenger designed to go as well as its eye-catching look, but with a strong resemblance to the best-selling Peugeot 208 supermini on which it is based.
The new 208 WRX prepared for 2018 will be updated throughout the season, with step-by-step upgrades. The aim is simple: to score as many points as possible from the beginning of the season in a bid to claim the drivers’ and teams’ championships in future, adding to Peugeot’s illustrious off-road motorsport history.
