Peugeot (1992 - 1998, 2001)

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
405 mi 16 405 mi 16 405 mi 16 405 mi 16 406 406 406
R. Gravett R. Gravett E. O'Brien S.Harrison T. Harvey T. Harvey T. Harvey
  E. O'Brien P. Watts P. Watts P. Watts P. Watts P. Radisich
Ian Flux
2001
406 Coupe
Steve Soper
Dan Eaves
Aaron Slight
    Matt Neal      
1990 champion Robb Gravett was recruited by Peugeot - Talbot to drive their single 405 mi16 entrant in the 1992 BTCC season. In their initial development year Peugeot struggled early on awaiting the arrival of their new, more powerful engine. Consequently the car spent much time in the 'midfield' of most races fighting over the spoils for points. For the following season Gravett was joined by Eugene O'Brien and Ian Flux in a three driver line up. Much of the consolidation work carried out by Peugeot during the close season started to pay off. Whilst the 405 was never one of the seasons front runners it started to achieve top five finishes. In an early show of form Flux and O'Brien took 5th and 6th at Oulton Park displaying that the Peugeot had the capability to get on the podium. Although the cars certainly got stronger during the latter half of the season the results proved too inconsistent. Gravett got a second place finish during round 13, at Brands Hatch, in the 405s best finish of the season, although podium finishes were something of a rarity.

Patrick Watts - 1994 Peugeot 405 mi16

Patrick Watts - 1995 Peugeot 405 mi16

 O'Brien was joined by Patrick Watts (ex. Mazda), in a two car entry, for the start of the 1994 season.  The 405 again proved to be a capable drive but still couldn't consistently pull away from the middle order to achieve the desired results.  Watts proved to be the more successful of the two drivers gaining three podium finishes, but couldn't finish higher than third. The first part of the season saw him in the top half of the drivers table but by the end of the championship he had dropped to eighth place, with O'Brien not figuring in the top ten at all. With Simon Harrison's arrival at Peugeot it was hoped that the mixture of youth and experience would bring results. Harrison, ex. National Saloon Car Champion replaced Eugene O'Brien in the all new 405 for 1995. The season unfolded into a familiar pattern of inconsistency for Peugeot.  At the second meeting of the year Watts was involved in a horrific accident with Ford's Paul Radisich, leaving the car a write off. A few weeks later he took third at Thruxton in the first race of the afternoon, only to go out of race two after an incident with Vauxhall's John Cleland.  More of the same followed for the remainder of the year, with both 405s never really fighting with the leading pack, and all too often failing to finish at all.
Much was expected of the new Peugeot 406 for 1996 but, even after the first few races the car still lacked the pace of a front runner.  Even after much development work during the early part of the season the team was always bidding to catch up with the opposition.  With drivers Patrick Watts and Tim Harvey driving harder as the season progressed the team still ended the year without a podium finish.  Peugeot, the last genuine 'works' outfit finally decided to hand the running of it's BTCC team to specialist preparation firm Motor Sport Developments (MSD) in an effort to gain results, for 1997.  It proved to be a learning year for the team in what turned out to be another patchy season.  The same driver line up saw Harvey take two second places ( Thruxton and Donington Park), but the 406 was off the pace on more than a few weekends.  After yet another poor season the end of the '97 championship saw the team finish in sixth place, with Harvey their highest placed driver in ninth.

Tim Harvey - 1996 Peugeot 406

Tim Harvey - 1997 Peugeot 406

The Esso Ultron Team Peugeot 406s were run by MSD for a second season in 1998, with Paul Radisich replacing Watts.  Encouraging pre-season testing results were not repeated once the racing began with both cars suffering engine problems.  All too often the 406 was losing power and then, more than not, the engine failed altogether.  Reliability did improve later in the season but as in the previous year Peugeot were playing 'catch up' once more.  If previous seasons had been a disappoinment then 1998 was a disaster.  With another season of no podium finishes the team finally finished bottom (8th) in the manufacturers table, their highest driver placing being Radisich, in 14th.

Another bad season for 1999 was not to be contemplated and when Peugeot UK failed to secure the back up it needed for the start of the new season from it's French HQ, the decision was made to withdraw.  Sadly for Peugeot, one of the stalwarts of the series, they bowed out without ever having had a win in the BTCC super tourer series.

After pulling out from the BTCC series at the end of 1998 Peugeot UK spent two seasons in the Super Production National Saloon Championship with the 306 Gti.  The car was quick and Peugeot won the title at the second attempt, in 2000.  Peugeot had appointed the running of the team to Bowman Motorsport, a company set up by Vic Lee, former BTCC champion team owner, and ex F3 boss Vic Hollman.  With the intention to re-enter the revised format BTCC for the 2001 season Peugeot again entrusted the team to Vic Lee and his new company Vic Lee Racing (VLR).  Initially it was expected that the 306, or newer 307 model would be used but the 406 coupe was chosen instead, due to the 307 not being ready in time.  A four car entry was listed at the start of the season with Steve Soper, Matt Neal, Dan Eaves starting the year, to be joined by Kiwi bike racer Aaron Slight at selected meetings.  Although the team were behind Vauxhall with regard to pre season testing things had gone well and the car was proving reliable.  It became apparent from the very first race at Brands hatch, however, that the 406s were 'off the pace', and finished well down on the Astras.  This proved to be pretty much the format for the rest of the season, with Peugeot only usually gaining a rare podium finish if one of the four Astras didn't finish.  Matt Neal was forced to drop out after the opening rounds at Brands Hatch, after sponsorship wrangles, leaving Soper and Eaves to soldier on for the remainder of the year.  They were joined by Slight for rounds 11 & 12 but Peugeot only fielded two cars for most of the season.

Matt Neal (front) & Steve Soper - 2001 Peugeot 406 Coupe

Whilst the Vauxhalls were proving to be nigh invincible, the Peugeots were struggling with pace and reliability.  It wasn't unusual to see 406s retiring most weekends!  Towards the seasons end things started to improve and the 406s began to hold their own, but it was all too late.  Consequently Peugeot finished the season without a win and a very firm second in what was a 'two horse race' for the manufacturers title.

Within a few weeks of the 2001 season end Peugeot announced that it would not be contesting the series the following year in order to concentrate in its effort in trying to win the 2002 World Rally Championship.  For the second time in three years Peugeot found themselves retiring from the BTCC still without a win in the championship.
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