The new Peugeot 208 Racing has us craving street-legal rally racing

Stellantis Motorsport launches new racing version of Peugeot 208, focused on affordability

Peugeot has stubbornly refused to slap the GTI and Rallye badges on its new models, but that hasn’t stopped Stellantis’ motorsport division from creating a new racing version of the 208. The 208 Racing benefits from an upgraded turbocharged engine and sharper chassis setup, as well as the usual high safety standards, forming an affordable entry point into the world of motorsport.

While we’re happy that 208 Racing is launching a production model of the hot hatch, unfortunately, it’s specifically designed to compete in the FR6 Trophy. Stellantis is the first manufacturer to join the new series from the French Automobile Sports Federation (FFSA) that will form part of the French Rally Cup from the 2025 season.

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This rally car is based on the facelifted Peugeot 208, adding a set of white steel, lime green decoration on the daytime running lights and a beautiful paint job on the white body. It’s enough to make us nostalgic for the days of the Peugeot 106 Rallye, a car recently unofficially resurrected by a Swiss dealer as a 208-based special edition.

Stellantis added a welded roll cage and automatic fire extinguishing system to the car, both in compliance with Rally4 regulations. The dashboard is “optimized” to avoid reflections and features a multi-function display, kill switch (circuit breaker) and custom controls on the center console. Additionally, a race-specific electronic architecture makes it easier for teams to acquire and analyze driving data.

In the development of 208 Racing, Stellantis Motorsport drew on expertise from the Peugeot 208 Rally4, Citroen C3 Rally2 and 208 Racing Cup. Under the hood is an upgraded version of Stellantis’ turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder petrol engine, producing 143 hp (107 kW / 145 hp).

That’s 44 hp (45 PS) more than the production Peugeot 208, but 66 hp (67 PS) less than the 208 Rally4. Still, the 208 Racing has plenty of performance for a small hatchback that weighs just 1,050 kilograms (2,315 pounds). Power is sent to the front wheels via a short-ratio six-speed manual transmission.

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The engine uses only super ethanol-E85 fuel, which is said to reduce CO2 emissions by 30% compared to gasoline. Stellantis Motorsport engineers also tuned the suspension and braking systems based on feedback from professional racers. Finally, standard Michelin Pilot Sport PS5 tires help reduce maintenance costs.

The 208 Racing is priced at €38,900 ($42,110) before tax, making it significantly cheaper than the 208 Rally4. Stellantis has begun accepting orders, with deliveries expected to begin in February 2025.

Unfortunately, Peugeot doesn’t plan to offer a performance-focused version of the road-going 208 – at least not for the foreseeable future. After all, the subcompact hatchback segment has been all but extinct with the exits of several automakers in recent years.

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