Pikes Peak 2013

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208 T16 PIKES PEAK : Reaching for the clouds with one horsepower per kilogram!
April, 23, 2013

23 April 2013 14:25
All the versions of this article : [English] [Fran?ais]

Peugeot Sport has pulled no punches in its bid to provide S?bastien Loeb with a singularly awesome machine for the 2013 Pike Peak Hill Climb (June 30). The 208 T16 Pikes Peak in which the driver who has dominated world class rallying for the past decade will attempt to become the ?King of The Peak? boasts a power output of 875 horsepower, tips the scales at just 875kg, and benefits from all-wheel drive, plus a spectacular aerodynamic package.



The mission of any race car designer is to juggle with the restrictions and constraints dictated by the regulations in areas like height, the forms of the body, the size and location of the powerplant, etc. It?s a stimulating challenge, of course, yet it can also be highly frustrating at times. Deep down, engineers have just one desire, to sweep the table clear of the rule books and design the ultimate, no-holds-barred machine with just one objective in mind: the quest for absolute performance.



The Pikes Peak Hill Climb is the only race in the world that permits the fantasy of freeing the beast that lurks at the back of every engineer?s mind to become reality! The very mention of the event and its celebrated ?Unlimited? class is enough to bring a twinkle to the eyes of any designer. ?Your imagination is the only limit when you set out to design a car for Pikes Peak,? grins Jean-Christophe Pallier, the Peugeot Sport engineer tasked with the 208 T16 Pikes Peak project. ?Designing this car was a tremendously rewarding experience, even though we still had to take the ?time? factor into account??



The giddy altitudes visited by the Colorado hill climb present a unique technical challenge: that of ensuring the engines are able to breathe as freely as possible in the rarefied air? ?In the case of a normally-aspirated engine, you basically lose one percent of the available power every 100 metres you climb,? notes Peugeot Sport Director Bruno Famin. This is a fundamental parameter that has to be taken into account for this race which starts at an altitude of 2,865 metres and finishes at 4,301 metres! By the time they reach the start line, certain engines automatically shed some 30 percent of their potential. A powerful engine is consequently essential because there can be no question of S?bastien Loeb lacking power on the day.



Peugeot Sport?s answer is a derivative of the bi-turbo V6 which was designed for endurance racing. With this 875-horsepower powerplant under the bonnet, the 208 T16 Pikes Peak will boast even more power than a Formula 1 single-seater! It goes without saying that it will be the most powerful car ever driven by world rallying?s multiple champion. This will be motorsport in the extreme, especially since the guard rails that are a hallmark of traditional circuits make way for steep drops in the case of the Pikes Peak Hill Climb?



In its bid to reach out to the clouds, Peugeot Sport has also paid careful attention to providing S?bastien Loeb with a particularly lightweight car. ?We?ve shaved it down to 875kg,? observes Jean-Christophe Pallier. ?As a result, we have achieved the magic and symbolic power-to-weight ratio of 1:1!? Meanwhile, to be sure that the car?s handling is as agile as possible, the weight distribution of the tubular-framed machine has been meticulously fine-tuned, with the engine sitting in a mid-rear position, like the famous Group B rally cars of the 1980s and like endurance racing prototypes.



The 208 T16 Pikes Peak effectively shares its genes with those of the Le Mans 24 Hours-winning 908 in several areas. Indeed, last year?s Pikes Peak took place for the first time on an entirely asphalted course, so the machine conceived by Peugeot Sport is practically an out-and-out endurance racing prototype. Common areas include the running gear, brakes and aerodynamic features like the air-intake and the spectacular two-metre wide rear wing which was originally used for the first-generation 908 HDi FAP. Unfortunately, there weren?t any wider options in stock!



Also like that of a Le Mans car, the 208?s aerodynamic package has been meticulously honed. ?We believe efficient aerodynamics can give us a competitive edge over our rivals,? notes Jean-Christophe Pallier. ?The speeds reached during the ascension range from 50 to 240kph, and aerodynamics play a key role from 100kph.? The 208 T16 Pikes Peak?s hallmark rear wing and front splitter are not only extremely spectacular, but they are also awesomely efficient, in addition to bestowing the car with a truly beast-like stance. Meanwhile, although invisible, the design of the car?s under-tray is responsible for generating almost half the car?s downforce?



Last but by no means least, the Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak sits on bespoke Michelin tyres which provide the four driven wheels with invaluable grip. To tackle the 156 turns that stand between S?bastien Loeb and the Colorado clouds, the most successful driver in rallying history will most definitely benefit from one of the most potent purpose-engineered cars ever designed for motorsport!
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[video=youtube;l6R3-QAPvKY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=l6R3-QAPvKY[/video]
 
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Now that it's fully paved, is it relatively smooth? Seems like it's a lot like the Swiss hillclimbs now. I'm surprised they don't have Formula 3000 cars or hell F1 cars racing up that thing now. :lol:
 
it is, but there are some parts with old pavement. another problem is loose dirt.
do to high altitude, air is thinner so aero doesnt help you that much. also NA engines loose more power then turbos, so hillclimbing F3000 from europe would have to change it to be competative.
 
Loeb testing
 
More testing
[video=youtube;ZoyNlI-Cluw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ZoyNlI-Cluw[/video]
 
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I've heard a lot of people going, "Oh Pikes Peak, it's fully paved now. It's not as scary." My argument to that is it's even more scary now because it's fully paved. Competitors can go flat out now without dirt sections to worry about. There's no compromise when choosing tires or setup.

Pretty much this. If you fall off the mountain, you're gonna fall off at much higher speeds. :blink:


Loeb's car is crazy. I sort of wish they'd keep the naked carbon fiber and silver look, though. That looks MEAN!
 
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pshht....thats not even close to Pikes Peak. The road is kind of similar I guess, but the summit of that mountain isn't even close to as high as the starting line at Pikes Peak (by more then 3000 feet). Still cool, and I wouldn't be surprised if he wins with all the emphasis he and Citroen are putting on this. Still think it would be cool of Rhys Millen or Monster Tajima beat him though.
 
Loeb final Mont Ventoux test
 
TMG EV P002
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Jean-Philippe Dayraut's Pikes Peak Mini with a 3.6-liter twin-turbo engine developing 900 hp and 950 kg, 4-wheel drive and a 6-speed gearbox
http://www.jph-dayraut.com/
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this is gonna be great. specs on the Toyota EV, 400kW and 1200Nm of torque, dunno if its official.

is there any word if Tajima is coming this year?
 
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to bad Dallenbach isnt in his crazy open wheeler, but seeing Rhys back in pm580 is surprising. I thought Red Bull took it from him 2 years ago :D

also this:
 
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[video=youtube;0-QeCTHIPi8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-QeCTHIPi8[/video]

and here is ryhs with a more powerful engine (900HP) and a new body.
 
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