Review: Peugeot 205 T16 Evolution 1 Semi-Works - 1985 & 1986 Season Review
BACKGROUND
In addition to the official works cars, Peugeot Talbot Sport also supplied a quintet of T16 Evolution 1s to trusted satellite operations for 1985. The Peugeot importers for Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK each ran a factory-supported programme in works PTS colours.
A fifth car went to Bernard Darniche who had been involved with T16’s development.
PTS DEUTSCHLAND
Undoubtedly the most successful of these semi-works Evolution 1s during the 1985 and 1986 seasons was chassis C13. It ran under the Peugeot Talbot Sport Deutschland banner but was uniquely prepared at the PTS headquarters in France.
Piloted by Kalle Grundel and navigator Peter Diekmann, C13 (registered SB-K 205) won 90% of the rallies it contested in 1985. This made Grundel and Diekmann the obvious candidates to deputise for Ari Vatanen and Terry Harryman after their massive accident at Rally Argentina in 1985.
Grundel took the offer of a works RS200 drive from Ford for 1986 so was replaced by Michele Mouton for that season who was co-driven by a now recovered Terry Harryman.
Together, Mouton and Harryman continued C13’s winning ways with another half dozen victories at national and European level.
PTS ESPANA
Chassis C14 went to Peugeot Talbot Sport Espana and was prepared by Jacques Almeras from his base in southern France. Initially driven by Antonio Zanini, this car (registered 25 TC 34) had a spectacular debut crash on the Rally Costa Brava where it somersaulted down the road after hitting a bank.
Four weeks later, C14 had been repaired and Zanini placed sixth on the Rally Costa Blanca before doing one more event after which he was replaced by Bruno Saby.
In his two outings, Saby most notably scored a victory on the Rally Girona-Guilleries.
For 1986, C14 was sold to Swiss privateer, Freddy Oguey, who finished every rally he started and won the Rallye de Court outright.
PTS ITALIA
In Italy, the Peugeot Talbot Sport Italia chassis (C15) was prepared in the rally department of Enzo Osella’s engineering outfit under the watchful eye of Mariolino Cavagnero.
Registered MI 64170X and used exclusively throughout 1985 by Giovanni del Zoppo and Elisabetta Tognana, C15 finished second on its Rally 1000 Miglia debut and won the Rally Citta di Sassari mid-season. However, it otherwise struggled with reliability.
C15 was retained for the 1986 season when Andrea Zanussi / Paolo Amati took over driver and navigational duties. This new pair finished on the podium in four out of five rallies contested and won the Rally di Limone Piemonte.
After his impressive form, Zanussi drove a works T16 Evolution 2 on the 1986 Sanremo Rally (where the entire team were scandalously excluded by the Italian organisers). He also went on to become a key part of Peugeot’s Pikes Peak and Grand Raid programme in 1987.
PTS UK
The fourth T16 Evolution 1 sent out for a domestic programme was chassis C20. Its destination was Peugeot Talbot Sport UK run by Des O’Dell who had masterminded the victorious 1981 World Rally Championship for Talbot (which was part of the Chrysler Europe assets purchased by PSA Group in 1979).
Registered B555 SRW, chassis C20 was driven exclusively by Mikael Sundstrom throughout the 1985 and 1986 seasons. Navigated by Paul White for the first year, the best result (and only finish from four events) was third on the Ulster Rally.
Navigational duties were transferred to Voitto Silander for 1986 when victories on the Scottish and Lurgan Park rallies were achieved.
BERNARD DARNICHE
After he helped PTS develop the T16 Evo 1 and Evo 2, Bernard Darniche was able to acquire an Evolution 1 in time for the 1985 Tour de Corse. Regaled in a stunning blue Gauloises Blondes livery, chassis M1 was numbered out of sequence with the other Evo 1s.
Prepared for Darniche by Fred Stadler, M1 ran at the Tour de Corse, Ypres 24 Hour Rally (in white and red Bastos livery) and finally at the Tour Auto de la Reunion (back to blue Gauloises trim). It failed to finish on all three occasions. Nevertheless, in its stunning blue colour scheme with contrasting white wheels, this was perhaps the most handsome T16 of all.
