VIN: the works Peugeot 205 T16 Evolution 2 chassis C209
/ Ben Tyer
HISTORY OF CHASSIS C209
The works Peugeot Talbot Sport squad took a pair of new T16 Evolution 2s to the 1986 Swedish Rally which was held over a 1670km route that comprised 557km of snowy special stages between February 14th and 16th. The event was round two of the ‘86 World Championship and took place three weeks after the Monte Carlo Rally in which Lancia’s Henri Toivonen had emerged victorious.
The T16s dispatched to Sweden were chassis C208 for Juha Kankkunen / Juha Piironen and C209 for ‘85 champions Timo Salonen / Seppo Harjanne. Both cars weighed in at 1000kg and were running 450bhp engines.
Having finished second on the Monte, it was Salonen that dominated the early proceedings driving C209 as even Toivonen’s Delta S4 couldn’t touch him for pace. However, having won the first six stages, Salonen’s engine expired after the oil pressure dropped owing to a loose oil filter bowl. A brief fire then occurred and C209 was forced to retire. It did not compete for the factory outfit again.
Following Salonen’s retirement, fastest stage times were traded between Kankunnen in the sister T16, Lancia drivers Toivonen and Markku Alen plus Kalle Grundel in the brand new Ford RS200. After overhauling Toivonen to take the lead, Kankunnen then set about building a big gap and led the entire second half of the event to secure his first WRC victory for Peugeot. Alen was second for Lancia and Grundel third for Ford.
Notable History
Registered 709 EXC 75
21/02/1986 WRC Swedish Rally (T. Salonen / S. Harjanne) DNF (#2)
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: unattributed
