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In 2007 Peugeot will be returning to the world’s
automotive racing circuits at the highest level, after retiring
from the WRC at the end of 2005. Announced on 14th June 2005
Peugeot’s Le Mans programme only really started once
the last WRC test trial finished, in November 2005. Since
then the Peugeot Sport team has been reorganised to produce
a mock-up of the V12 HDi FAP engine in June 2006, followed
by a mock-up of the 908 at the Paris Motor Show last September,
and today it unveils the 908, ready to start is first development
tests. The main race this year will of course be the Le Mans
24 Hours, a race that Peugeot has twice already won in 1992
and 1993. 2007 will, however, be a breaking in period for
everyone, men and cars, before claiming victory in this prestigious
race in 2008. Peugeot will also be present in the LMS with,
as at Le Mans, two cars in each of the 6 races.
Michael Barge, Director of Peugeot Sport, unveils
the Marque’s sporting strategy
“2007 is a real ‘restart’ for Peugeot Sport,
conveyed by a new logo and by its new programmes that are
based on two elements: the official programme based on endurance
and the HDi FAP as well as sporting promotional programmes
built around the Peugeot 207.
In little more than a year, we are putting the 908 on the
track for the first time with a partly-renewed team in which
we have searched for both the necessary skills and consistency
to achieve our common goal. The team that we have formed is
exceptionally effective, which has allowed us to show you
today a completely new car, engine, gearbox and chassis. With
this in mind, our 2007 objective is to progress and develop
the 908 for all the different circuits in a manner that enables
us to achieve a winning level of performance necessary for
the 2008 season. But as for 2007 we are striving to present
the best possible mix of track performance and endurance.
Two cars are already committed in each of the 6 LMS races
as well as the Le Mans 24 Hours. A team of six drivers has
been recruited by our Team Manager, Serve Saulnier: for four
of the LMS races, the Frenchmen, Nicolas Manassian and Stéphane
Sarrazin, the Portuguese, Pedro Lamy and the Spaniard, Marc
Géné. Sébastien Bourdais and Jacques
Villeneuve will help to strengthen the two driving teams for
the Le Mans 24 Hours whilst Eric Hélary will be the
test driver and the reserve.
The promotion of sporting products, which underlines the
dynamic qualities and the technical elements which make up
our production cars, is based around the Peugeot 207 with
two new products fitted with the THP petrol engine. Both are
destined for the race track and have already been unveiled,
the 207 LW, the entry level competition car, which will be
developed in France at the Peugeot Sport Meetings in the 207
Sprint Cup. Its winner will be presented with a Spider 207,
the second car destined for the track. A European based formula;
the Spider Cup will accompany the 908 in the various LMS races
as well as 2 races in the French calendar. The winner will
have the possibility of test driving the 908 for a day.
Finally for rallying, the 207 Super 2000 conforms to the
new Super 2000 regulations. It will be used by our subsidiaries,
importers and private customers in national and international
championships, such as the intercontinental Rally Challenge
and the Production WRC in 2007.
Justifiably strong in motor sport, Peugeot expresses via competitions
its marque’s values, dynamism, value, innovation and
style.
Peugeot Sport will rely on its close collaboration with its
partner, Total, as well as its technical partners, Bosch,
Michelin, Dow Automotive and Eurodatacar and X Box 360 for
this programme.”
The 908 HDi FAP in detail
The monocoque body:
The monocoque body is made of carbon and presents a truly
closed structure, contrary to the 905, which was a "racing
car" with a detachable tubular rollover bar. This type of
structure offers strong natural rigidity (the "eggshell" effect)
and allows the weight of the monocoque body to be optimised.
Body and aerodynamics:
Created from scratch at the beginning of 2006, Peugeot Sport's
aerodynamics department had the difficult task of designing
in just a few weeks an exterior body that was both original
and aerodynamically efficient.
Three months after the appointment of the aerodynamics project
team leader, a model of the car was undergoing the first tests
in the wind tunnel!
The car's profile results not only from the necessary compromise
between aerodynamic efficiency and drag, but also the need
to provide optimum airflow to the different radiators and
intercoolers located within the generously dimensioned bodywork.
Suspension, steering, brakes:
Given the challenge of designing a complete car in record
time and the particular constraints of the HDi DPFS engine,
the Peugeot Sport team relied on proven solutions for the
front and rear suspension design, the electric power steering
and the brakes.
The gearbox:
This is positioned longitudinally and will allow the fitment
of up to 6 gear ratios, the limit laid down by the regulations.
It has been designed to withstand the enormous torque of the
engine, while ensuring optimum weight and size characteristics.
The gearbox is controlled electro-pneumatically.
The engine:
The chosen engine architecture is a 100° V12 with a capacity
of 5.5 litres. This is the maximum capacity permitted by the
regulations and was chosen due to its greater internal airflow
at low engine speeds. It also gives potential future development
opportunities to use different grade fuels.
The choice of a twelve cylinder engine helps keep the cylinder
bore diameter very close to that of a production series engine.
In doing so, Peugeot can call on its extensive knowledge of
diesel combustion and also ensure the engine has a reasonable
piston stroke. The V12 architecture, well known for its good
balance, also reduces vibrations to a minimum.
The 100° V angle, like the V12 architecture, makes it possible
to lower the height of the centre of gravity without affecting
the engine's torsional rigidity.
Two diesel particulate filters are located at the end of each
exhaust system and guarantee "smoke-free" operation of the
engine under all conditions.
The two exhaust systems are as short as possible. On each
side a 6 into 1 exhaust manifold is connected to a Garrett
turbocharger, then to a very compact diesel particulate filter
before ending in a side exhaust pipe, located in front of
the rear wheel.
The expected level of performance - a power of more than 515
kW (700 bhp) and a torque in excess of 1200 Nm, which is unprecedented
for a diesel engine - is a direct results of Peugeot's diesel
engine expertise, combined with the mechanical specification
of the V12 engine.
Electronics:
The 908 will benefit fully from Peugeot Sport's considerable
expertise and knowledge in electronics, acquired as a result
of its extensive experience with WRC cars - which are generously
equipped with electronic systems - and in particular with
respect to their experience of electronically controlled differentials.
Peugeot Sport will also benefit from the experience of the
main supplier Bosch, who will be supplying and developing
the "car system" on the basis of specifications provided by
Peugeot Sport.
A high level of performance is therefore expected in terms
of "traction control", a key function for controlling engine
torque in a race track environment, whilst also ensuring optimum
performance of the Michelin tyres.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION OF THE PEUGEOT 908:
- Engine:
- - Rear central longitudinal position
- - All-aluminium with one-piece aluminium cylinder block.
- - 12 cylinders, V angle 100°
- - Capacity: 5.5 litre
- - Common rail direct injection
- - Engine management: Bosch MS17
- - Power: 700 bhp
- - Torque: 1200 Nm
- Transmission :
- - Gearbox: longitudinal with a maximum of 6 gear ratios.
- - Electro-pneumatic gearbox control.
- - Differential: self-locking
- - Suspension, steering, brakes:
- - Linked front and rear suspension
- - Electric power steering
- - Michelin tyres
- - Wheels: BBS, magnesium
- - Length: 4,650 mm
- - Width: 2,000 mm
- - Minimum weight: 925 kg
Peugeot's main partners in the "Le Mans Series" Championship
are: TOTAL, MICHELIN, XBOX, BOSCH, EURODATACAR, DOW AUTOMOTIVE,TAG
HEUER et PEUGEOT FINANCEMENT.
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