Building the Dakar Winning Peugeot 205 Dakar T16 Stages 30-33

Описание: The Peugeot 205 T16 Grand Raid was a heavily modified version of the legendary 205 T16 Group B rally car, designed specifically for the grueling Paris-Dakar Rally. Finnish rally driver Ari Vatanen drove it to victory in the 1987 and 1989 Dakar Rally, cementing Peugeot’s dominance in the event.

Peugeot 205 T16 Grand Raid Overview

After Group B rallying was banned in 1986, Peugeot adapted its 205 Turbo 16 (T16) for cross-country rallying. The Grand Raid version featured:
• A mid-mounted, turbocharged 1.9L inline-4 engine, producing around 380 hp
• Four-wheel drive, adapted for off-road endurance
• A lightweight tubular chassis and strengthened suspension for desert conditions
• Enlarged fuel tanks (up to 400L) for long stages
• A new longer body with improved aerodynamics

Ari Vatanen and the 205 T16 in Dakar

Ari Vatanen, already a World Rally Champion (1981), was recruited by Peugeot to tackle the Dakar. His most notable moments include:
• 1987 Dakar Victory – In his first attempt, Vatanen took a dominant win, proving Peugeot’s rally engineering worked for Dakar.
• 1988 Incident – While leading, his car was mysteriously stolen from the bivouac and later found abandoned. This cost him the race.
• 1989 Redemption – Vatanen returned to win again, defeating teammate Jacky Ickx after a controversial “coin toss” by Peugeot to avoid internal team battles.

Peugeot’s 205 T16 Grand Raid dominated Dakar, paving the way for its successor, the Peugeot 405 T16, which Vatanen also drove to victory in 1990 and 1991.