VIN: the 1986 1000 Lakes Rally winning Peugeot 205 T16 Evolution 2 chassis C211
History of chassis C211
Chassis C211 was a 205 T16 Evolution 2 used by Peugeot’s works team at four rallies during the course of 1986.
It was one of two new Evolution 2s that appeared for round four of the ‘86 season: the Safari Rally which took place across 4200km of gruelling African terrain between March 29th and April 2nd.
C211 was allocated to 1985 Safari winners Juha Kankunnen and Juha Piironen with C112 in the hands of five-time winner, Shekhar Mehta and his co-driver, Rob Combes.
Engines were de-tuned to 400bhp at a maximum boost of 2.5 bar and all the normal Safari extras were installed. This event marked the debut for Peugeot’s remotely operated shock absorber cooling system. The second spare wheel was moved from roof to the front compartment. The auxiliary fuel tank that normally resided there was replaced by two long-range 60-litre cells underneath the seats.
Unfortunately, Kankkunen’s event was blighted with mechanical trouble; a variety of suspension and electrical problems hampered progress but C211 still managed to come home fifth, two hours and six minutes behind winner Bjorn Waldegard’s Toyota.
C211 subsequently had to wait five months for its next competitive appearance which came at round nine, the 382km all-gravel 1000 Lakes (August 6th to 9th). By this time it had been re-registered 237 FWH 75 (from 287 FPF 75).
The trio of Evolution 2s present in Finland came with new engine block castings, a revised front aluminium alloy axle housing and weighed in at between 1020kg and 1040kg. Engines were typically running 455bhp at 2.6 bar, but another 30bhp was available at 2.8 bar if required.
Although Markku Alen’s Delta S4 led for the first three days, an accident for the Lancia driver dropped him out of the running for victory and he ultimately crossed the line third behind Timo Salonen / Seppo Harjanne in chassis 211 and Kankkunen / Piironen in C210.
Next up for C211 was round eleven, the mixed gravel / tarmac 488km Rallye Sanremo where it was again allocated to Salonen / Harjanne. Four Evolution 2s were entered, all of which were in 1000 Lakes trim with up to 3 bar boost and 450bhp.
It initially looked as though the Peugeots were set to dish out a hiding to Lancia on their home soil, but scandalously, the French cars were excluded after 32 of the 41 stages as partisan Italian scrutineers wrongly deemed intakes on the undersills to be generating ground effect.
At the end of the season, the FIA decided to scrub the Sanremo results from the championship.
For chassis 211’s final competitive outing it was allocated to Juha Kankkunn / Juha Piironen as part of a three car entry for the 517km all-gravel RAC Rally (November 16th to 19th).
The T16s were in 450bhp Sanremo gravel trim, albeit with revised exhaust systems to cope with strict British noise legislation.
Unfortunately, Kankkunen lost any chance of victory after he span, put C211’s nose into a ditch and rolled at speed. He nevertheless recovered to finish third, one position ahead of team-mates Sundstrom / Silander but behind Alen’s second-placed Lancia and the victorious Peugeot of Salonen / Harjanne.
Notable History
Peugeot Talbot Sport
Registered 287 FPF 75
29/03/1986 WRC Safari Rally (J. Kankkunen / J. Piironen) 5th oa, 5th Gr.B class
Registered 237 FWH 75
05/09/1986 WRC 1000 Lakes Rally (T. Salonen / S. Harjanne) 1st oa, 1st B12 class (#1)
13/10/1986 WRC Rallye Sanremo (T. Salonen / S. Harjanne) DNF (#1)
16/11/1986 WRC RAC Rally (J. Kankkunen / J. Piironen) 3rd oa, 3rd B12 class (#5)
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Peugeot - http://www.peugeot.com
