News Peugeot 208 Type R5 renamed ‘T16’ for 2013

In commemoration of the iconic Peugeot 205's 30th anniversary this year, Peugeot has renamed it's 208 rally car for 2013.

Previously known until now as the 208 Type R5, and set to make it's competition debut towards the latter stages of this year's European Rally Championship, Peugeot has decided to rename the rally car the 208 T16 for this year only.

Avid fans of rallying and motorsports across the ages will know of the significance of the acronym, but our readers who aren't, a very brief history lesson is in order.

Back in the 1980s, when the 'Group B' legislation was active in the World Rally Championship, Peugeot entered the sport with it's highly modified 205 rally car, the T16 was mid-engined and all-wheel drive, and actually proved to be one of the more succesful Group B WRC cars.

In the last two years of Group B's presence in the WRC – 1985 and 1986 – Peugeot won back-to-back Manufacturers' titles. the 205 T16 also won consecutive Drivers' Championship titles as well, with Timo Salonen and Juha Kankhunen winning in '85 and '86 respectively.

Giving an unproven car such a legendary name to uphold may seem foolish to some, That said, Peugeot Sport has had some success in the now-discontinued Intercontinental Rally Championship with the 208's predecessor, the 207 S2000, which is worth factoring in.

It's also worth pointing out that Craig Breen – last year's winner of Super 2000 World Rally Champion – has been signed on as a works driver for the team, so there's all the possibility the 208 T16 could lay down some impressive stage times when it starts competing later this year
 

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