Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak sets new record!

Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak

Sébastian Loeb’s Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak has set a record time of 8 minutes 13.878 seconds at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb over the weekend, comfortably breaking the previous 9-minute 46.164-second record achieved by Rhys Millen’s Hyundai Genesis Coupe in 2012.

The nine-time rally champion recorded an average speed of 145 km/h over the treacherous 20 km, 156-turn run. Amidst a delayed start and weather concerns, Loeb ran the course two seconds faster than the theoretical 8 minutes 15 seconds estimated by Peugeot Sport’s computer.

Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak

Second place in the Unlimited class went to Rhys Millen’s Hyundai RMR PM580-T (9 minutes 2.192 seconds), while third went to Jean-Philippe Dayraut’s 2011 MINI Countryman (9 minutes 42.74 seconds). Both have eclipsed last year’s record set by the Hyundai Genesis Coupe, which won this year’s Time Attack class at the hands of Paul Dallenbach (9 minutes 46.001 seconds).

“It was good, all under control from start to finish,” said Loeb. “Apart from the potential of the weather turning bad, we didn’t have any worrying moments. For me, this was the race of the year.”

The Frenchman’s success pays tribute to former world rally champion Ari Vatanen and his 405 T16’s Pikes Peak record in 1988. Vatanen clocked 10 minutes 47.22 seconds – how far indeed we’ve come!

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Jonathan James Tan

While most dream of the future, Jonathan Tan dreams of the past, although he's never been there. Fantasises much too often about cruising down Treacher Road (Jalan Sultan Ismail) in a Triumph Stag that actually works, and hopes this stint here will snap him back to present reality.

 

Comments

  • they are still doing all the racing in the midst of serious financial crisis….wondering why they are still in the red….

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 21
    • rally_fan on Jul 02, 2013 at 12:37 pm

      PSA group made 13 billion euros in the 1st qtr of 2013. this is down from 2012’s 13.9 billion euros for the same period last year.. they also have a 31% increase in sales in China which helped offset poorer sales in Europe. its definitely not in the “red” as you claim.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
  • PauKaya on Jul 01, 2013 at 8:52 pm

    any news about Monster Tajima’s E-Runner?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
  • shawal on Jul 01, 2013 at 9:45 pm

    its probably running on racing fuel mixed with redbull…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • lobservateur on Jul 02, 2013 at 1:23 am

    bravo Peugeot bravo!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 0
  • gOOsh on Jul 02, 2013 at 8:12 am

    loeb is always a legend…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
  • Faster than even the computers predicted – hats off to Loeb!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • seb is always fast in tarmac rally

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • faster than GTR!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • benettonjim on Jul 04, 2013 at 2:03 am

    Very nice effort from both Loeb and the Peugeot team.
    Regarding Vatanen’s record, don’t forget that it was set on gravel. Since last year the Whole course is paved with asphalt….
    When Vatanen set his record, he had no electronics whatsoever and was literally risking his life!
    If anyone hasn’t already seen the “Climb Dance”, do so and you will understand.
    Cheers!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
 

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