Peugeot 307 WRC

Peugeot 307 WRC
CategoryWorld Rally Car
ConstructorPeugeot Sport
PredecessorPeugeot 206 WRC
Technical specifications[1][2]
Length4,344 mm (171.0 in)
Width1,770 mm (69.7 in)
Height1,370 mm (53.9 in)
Wheelbase2,610 mm (102.8 in)
Engine1,997 cc (121.9 cu in) I4 turbocharged
Front transverse
TransmissionFive-speed sequential
4-wheel drive
Weight1,230 kg (2,711.7 lb)
Tyres
Competition history (WRC)
Notable entrants
Notable drivers
DebutMonaco 2004 Monte Carlo Rally
First winFinland 2004 Rally Finland
Last winJapan 2005 Rally Japan
RacesWinsPodiumsTitles
363260

The Peugeot 307 WRC is a World Rally Car based on the Peugeot 307 road car. It was used by Peugeot Sport, Peugeot's factory team, and replaced the championship-winning 206 WRC from 2004 to 2005 in the World Rally Championship.

Competition history

Markko Märtin driving his 307 WRC at the 2005 Cyprus Rally.

The vehicle was plagued by transmission problems throughout its career, and the works team's drivers' driving styles did not suit the car's handling characteristics.[3] In 2004, the car took seven podiums and a maiden win in Rally Finland, but it was not able to challenge for the championship as Marcus Grönholm finished fifth in the drivers' championship and Peugeot fourth in the manufacturers' championship.[4]

The 2005 season was more successful, and Peugeot was a serious challenger for the manufacturers' championship, leading the championship after round 10, but the challenge faded after Markko Märtin's retirement from rallying following the death of Martin's co-driver Michael Park during the 2005 Wales Rally of Great Britain.[3] [5] Peugeot ultimately finished second in the manufacturers' championship, while Grönholm finished third in the drivers' championship, tied on points with second-placed Petter Solberg. Grönholm took victories at Rally Finland and Rally Japan along with six other podium finishes, while Märtin took four further podiums.[6]

The car saw its factory supported competition life cut short at the end of 2005 by PSA's decision to withdraw the factory teams of both Citroën and Peugeot from top level rallying.[7] A private undertaking by seasoned Peugeot preparatory firm Bozian Racing, dubbed OMV Peugeot Norway World Rally Team, largely assumed responsibility for the running of WRC specification 307s for the following season of 2006. Manfred Stohl and Henning Solberg were named as the driving personnel. Stohl impressively placed fourth in the overall drivers' standings, and the 307 WRC took seven podiums by privateer teams that season.

Overall, the car has three WRC victories and 26 podiums to its name, Marcus Grönholm having driven it to the top of the podium in the series at the Rally Finland in 2004 and 2005 as well as at the Rally Japan in 2005.[1][2]

The 307 WRC will be remembered for the accident that befell WRC competitors Markko Märtin and Michael Park on September 18, 2005, which resulted in co-driver Park's death. On stage 15 of Wales Rally GB, Märtin lost control of his 307 WRC and collided with a tree, killing Park instantly.[8] This was the first fatality in a WRC event since Rodger Freeth in 1993.[9]

WRC victories

No. Event Season Driver Co-driver
1 Finland 2004 Rally Finland 2004 Finland Marcus Grönholm Finland Timo Rautiainen
2 Finland 2005 Rally Finland 2005 Finland Marcus Grönholm Finland Timo Rautiainen
3 Japan 2005 Rally Japan 2005 Finland Marcus Grönholm Finland Timo Rautiainen

WRC results

Year Entrant Driver 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 TC Points
2004 Peugeot Sport Finland Marcus Grönholm MON
4 		SWE
2 		MEX
6 		NZL
2 		CYP
DSQ 		GRC
Ret 		TUR
2 		ARG
Ret 		FIN
1 		GER
Ret 		JPN
4 		GBR
Ret 		ITA
7 		FRA
4 		ESP
2 		AUS
Ret 		4th 101
Belgium Freddy Loix MON
5 		SWE
Ret 		ESP
Ret
Finland Harri Rovanperä MEX
10 		NZL
5 		CYP
DSQ 		GRC
3 		TUR
Ret 		ARG
5 		FIN
Ret 		JPN
6 		GBR
6 		ITA
Ret 		AUS
2
France Cédric Robert GER
5 		FRA
Ret
Belgium Freddy Loix MEX NZL CYP GRC TUR ARG FIN GER
6 		JPN GBR ITA FRA
7 		AUS
Finland Sebastian Lindholm MON SWE MEX NZL CYP GRC TUR ARG FIN
Ret 		GER JPN GBR ITA FRA ESP AUS
Sweden Daniel Carlsson MON SWE MEX NZL CYP GRC TUR ARG FIN GER JPN GBR
Ret 		ITA FRA ESP AUS
2005 Peugeot Sport Finland Marcus Grönholm MON
5 		SWE
Ret 		MEX
2 		NZL
2 		ITA
3 		CYP
Ret 		TUR
3 		GRC
4 		ARG
2 		FIN
1 		GER
3 		GBR
Ret 		JPN
1 		FRA
Ret 		ESP
Ret 		AUS
Ret 		2nd 135
Estonia Markko Märtin MON
4 		SWE
2 		MEX
3 		NZL
5 		ITA
4 		CYP
3 		TUR
5 		GRC
8 		ARG
6 		FIN
3 		GER
4 		GBR
Ret
Sweden Daniel Carlsson JAP
8 		AUS
Ret
France Nicolas Bernardi FRA
8 		ESP
6
Sweden Daniel Carlsson MON SWE
6 		MEX NZL ITA CYP TUR GRC ARG FIN GER GBR FRA ESP
Finland Sebastian Lindholm MON SWE MEX NZL ITA CYP TUR GRC ARG FIN
Ret 		GER GBR JAP FRA ESP AUS

References

  1. ^ a b "Peugeot 307 WRC". juwra.com. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Peugeot 307 WRC Evo2". juwra.com. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Peugeot 307 Profile". rallye-info.com. Archived from the original on 20 November 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  4. ^ "Finland Rally". juwra.com. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  5. ^ "Angry Martin wants rally overhaul". 12 January 2006.
  6. ^ "Rally Japan 2005". Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  7. ^ "Peugeot rules out WRC return". autocar.co.uk. 9 November 2009. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  8. ^ "Michael Park killed in Rally of Great Britain". motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. 20 September 2005. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  9. ^ "Not forgotten – Rodger Freeth". amcn.com. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
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