Peugeot will unveil 308 Racing Cup racecar for 2017 season

Peugeot Sport will unveil 308 Racing Cup racecar at Frankfurt Motor Show in September.  The new racecar will be available from the end of 2016 to the customers all around the world. It is intended that it will succeed the RCZ Racing Cup in both single-make championships and racing series such as the VLN in Germany, CER in Spain, CITE in Italy and BGDC in Belgium or even endurance championships like the 24H Series.

308 Racing Cup is a racing version of the 308 GTi by Peugeot Sport, which is the most radical road model in Peugeot’s range. The car was designed by the designers at Style Peugeot and is powered by the same 1.6-litre THP engine which can be found under the bonnet of the 308 GTi. The 308 Racing Cup produces 308hp (+38hp compared to 308 GTi) after the first phase of its development.

Based upon the Peugeot 308 GTi, which is widely acclaimed for its assertive character, the 308 Racing Cup adds its own distinctive muscular look. For its wider wheels to fit, the arches have been widened, endowing an unmistakeable athletic look. This is most notably suggested by its larger overall width which has been extended to 1910mm, 106mm more than the 308 GTi.

The spoiler that will adorn the rear of the car takes its inspiration directly from the WTCC regulations. The front and rear bumpers and front splitter are specific to the 308 Racing Cup and enhance its aerodynamic efficiency with an aggressive touch. Similarly distinctive are its 18-inch wheel rims which can be fitted with either slick or wet-weather tyres (27/65).

The 1.6-litre THP engine is derived directly from the powerplant which drives the 308 GTi. The brand’s engine specialists at Vélizy have further honed its performance to head off an increasingly high level of competition in the motorsport arena. In this way and by incorporating the turbo used for the 208 T16, the 308 Racing Cup has already surpassed the 308-horsepower threshold. Ongoing development work will offer the opportunity to produce even more potent and radical performance.

The new car also borrows elements of the suspension from its road-going counterpart, such as the pivots and rear beam. In other areas, in order to adapt the car for the racetrack, the brand’s engineers have opted for a number of specific parts, such as six-piston brake calipers. Meanwhile, the six-speed sequential gearbox benefits from steering wheel-mounted paddle shifter. The weight of the Peugeot 308 Racing Cup was also a priority in its design and will be restricted to between 1000 kg and 1050 kg.

Photos: Peugeot Sport