Peugeot 905

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Peugeot 905
Salon de l'auto de Geneve 2014 - 20140305 - Expo Le Mans 18.jpg
No. 1 Peugeot 905 on display at the 2014 Geneva International Motor Show
Category Group C
Designer(s) André de Cortanze
Production1990-1993
Successor Peugeot 908 HDi FAP
Technical specifications
Engine SA35-A1 3,499 cc (213.5 cu in) V10 naturally aspirated
Transmission 6-speed sequential manual
Competition history
Notable entrants Flag of France.svg Peugeot Talbot Sport
Notable drivers
Debut 1991 430 km of Suzuka
First win1991 430 km of Suzuka
Last win 1993 24 Hours of Le Mans
Last event1993 24 Hours of Le Mans
RacesWins Podiums
17918
Constructors' Championships1 (1992)
Drivers' Championships1 (1992)

The Peugeot 905 is a sports-prototype racing car built by Peugeot's racing department, Peugeot Talbot Sport. The car was initially unveiled in February 1990 and was developed throughout 1990 before making its race debut at the World Sportscar Championship in the final two races of the 1990 season (Montreal and Mexico City). The Peugeot 905 participated in 17 races in its career, winning 9 of them.

Contents

The car won the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race in 1992 with the team of Derek Warwick, Yannick Dalmas, and Mark Blundell. This win was followed in 1993 by the team of Geoff Brabham, Christophe Bouchut, and Éric Hélary, in the 905B. In addition to that, the car won both the driver’s and the team’s title at the World Sportscar Championship in the 1992 season. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]

History

Inception

In November 1988 Peugeot Talbot Sport, established under the control of Jean Todt at Vélizy-Villacoublay, in the suburbs of Paris, [11] announced the launch of the 905 project to compete in the 1991 World Sportscar Championship using the new rules which the 1991 season would introduce.

Technically advanced, the 905 used a carbon fiber chassis engineered by Dassault and a light alloy SA35-A1 3499 cc naturally aspirated V10 engine that was similar to F1 engines of the time. The 905 was built at Vélizy-Villacoublay [12] and was officially unveiled on the 4th of July 1990 at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, with Jean-Pierre Jabouille driving.

The initial version of the 905 from 1991. Peugeot 905 1990 Mulhouse FRA 001.JPG
The initial version of the 905 from 1991.

The car made its racing debut in the final two races of the 1990 season with Jabouille and Keke Rosberg sharing the wheel. Although the car was slower than the contemporary Group C Sports Prototypes, it was notably quicker than the other 3.5 litre Sports-Prototypes which raced in that season.

1991 season

The 905 began its first full season in the World Sportscar Championship in 1991. Although the car was now quicker than the 1990 version, and indeed the heavily penalised Group C cars that were allowed to race, in the early part of the season the 905 suffered some performance and reliability problems but, more crucially for Peugeot, the car was a lot slower than the standard-setting Jaguar XJR-14 - a car that was able to match the lap times of most contemporary F1 cars (but not those of top cars such the Williams-Renault and McLaren-Honda cars that were at least 2 to 3 seconds faster per lap).

The car was, however, able to obtain a lucky win at the Suzuka Circuit. Unfortunately, at the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans, both cars entered did not last past the four-hour mark.

The 905B Evo model, with cockpit doors open. Peugeot 905.JPG
The 905B Evo model, with cockpit doors open.

To counter Jaguar in the remaining races of the championship the 905 was heavily revised, primarily in aerodynamics. Carrying over only the cockpit of the previous car, the evolutionary 905B was created. With the more notable changes consisting of a two-tier rear wing and an optional full-width front wing, including a more powerful SA35-A2 engine, the 905B made its race debut at the Nürburgring round of the 1991 series. These advancements allowed the team to finish the year winning at Magny-Cours and Mexico with back-to-back 1-2 wins, thus completing the season in second place overall.

1992 season

The 905B became one of only two factory efforts involved in the 1992 World Sportscar Championship season alongside Toyota, who were competing in their first season under the 3.5-litre regulations using the TS010. This meant that only the 1992 24 Hours of Le Mans showed a strong competition among the Group C cars. The 905B was successful, bringing 2 of the team's 3 cars home in 1st and 3rd overall.

1993 season

905 Evo2 from 1993. Peugeot 905 Evo2 at Le Mans Museum.jpg
905 Evo2 from 1993.

For 1993, the World Sportscar Championship ceased to exist but were permitted to run at Le Mans in 1993 and 1994. However, prior to the announcement of its cancellation, Peugeot had begun the development of the 905 Evolution 2 to compete in the 1993 season. This car, which was tested for a few laps in practice at the final race of the 1992 season at Magny-Cours was never finished, leaving Peugeot to concentrate solely on 1993 24 Hours of Le Mans with the Evo 1B. They were able to make a historic win by sweeping the first three positions. Following this dominance, Peugeot pulled out of sportscar racing.

Peugeot decided to switch to Formula One, using the same 3.5L V10 from the 905 that was easily adjusted to F1 regulations. In 1994, Peugeot debuted as an engine supplier with the McLaren team and remained in F1 until the end of the 2000 season, when, after little success, they decided to concentrate on the World Rally Championship, where their factory team had had some success, winning the title on several occasions. However, Peugeot withdrew its works WRC operation at the end of the 2005 season, and returned to Le Mans for the 2007 24 Hours, with the new 908 HDi FAP prototype entry.

Specifications

Manufacturer
Peugeot
First race
1990
Category
Group C1
Engine
80° 3,499 cc (214 cu in) V10, 40 valves
Output
650 PS (478 kW; 641 hp) @ 12,500 rpm (905B produced approximately 715 hp (533 kW; 725 PS))
Transmission
6-speed sequential manual, mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Chassis
Carbon fiber Monocoque
Length
4.80 metres (189.0 in)
Width
1.96 metres (77.2 in)
Height
1.04 metres (40.9 in)
Weight
780 kg (1,720 lb)
Tires
Michelin 32x63x17 & 34x70x18

Competition History

Complete World Sportscar Championship results

YearEntrantClassDriversNo.12345678PointsPos
1991 Flag of France.svg Peugeot Talbot Sport C1 5 Flag of Japan.svg
SUZ
Flag of Italy.svg
MNZ
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
SIL
Flag of France.svg
LMS
Flag of Germany.svg
NUR
Flag of France.svg
MAG
Flag of Mexico.svg
MEX
Flag of Japan.svg
AUT
Flag of Italy.svg Mauro Baldi 186RetRet224693rd
Flag of France.svg Philippe Alliot 186RetRet224
Flag of Finland.svg Keke Rosberg 6RetRetRetRetRet11Ret4010th
Flag of France.svg Yannick Dalmas RetRetRetRetRet11Ret
Flag of Italy.svg
MNZ
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
SIL
Flag of France.svg
LMS
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
DON
Flag of Japan.svg
SUZ
Flag of France.svg
MAG
PointsPos
1992 Flag of France.svg Peugeot Talbot Sport C1 Flag of France.svg Yannick Dalmas 1211215981st
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Derek Warwick 211215
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mark Blundell 1
Flag of France.svg Philippe Alliot 2RetRet3131642nd
Flag of Italy.svg Mauro Baldi RetRet3131
Flag of France.svg Jean-Pierre Jabouille 3
Flag of Austria.svg Karl Wendlinger 31RetNCNC
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Eric van de Poele Ret
Flag of France.svg Alain Ferté Ret
Flag of France.svg Christophe Bouchut 7121514th
Flag of France.svg Éric Hélary 2

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

YearEntrantClassNoDriversLapsPos.Class
Pos.
1991 Flag of France.svg Peugeot Talbot Sport C1 5 Flag of Italy.svg Mauro Baldi
Flag of France.svg Philippe Alliot
Flag of France.svg Jean-Pierre Jabouille
22DNFDNF
6 Flag of Finland.svg Keke Rosberg
Flag of France.svg Yannick Dalmas
Flag of France.svg Pierre-Henri Raphanel
68DNFDNF
1992 Flag of France.svg Peugeot Talbot Sport C1 1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Derek Warwick
Flag of France.svg Yannick Dalmas
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mark Blundell
3521st1st
2 Flag of Italy.svg Mauro Baldi
Flag of France.svg Philippe Alliot
Flag of France.svg Jean-Pierre Jabouille
3453rd3rd
31 Flag of Austria.svg Karl Wendlinger
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Eric van de Poele
Flag of France.svg Alain Ferté
208DNFDNF
1993 Flag of France.svg Peugeot Talbot Sport C1 1 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Thierry Boutsen
Flag of France.svg Yannick Dalmas
Flag of Italy.svg Teo Fabi
3742nd2nd
2 Flag of France.svg Philippe Alliot
Flag of Italy.svg Mauro Baldi
Flag of France.svg Jean-Pierre Jabouille
3673rd3rd
3 Flag of France.svg Éric Hélary
Flag of France.svg Christophe Bouchut
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Geoff Brabham
3751st1st

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References

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  2. "Very Good Car Alert". 8 September 2021.
  3. "Peugeot 905 – the First Lion-badged Car to Win at le Mans". 15 June 2017.
  4. "1992 - 1993 Peugeot 905 Evo 1 Bis Specifications".
  5. "Peugeot's V-10-Powered le Mans Winner is a Masterpiece". June 2019.
  6. "Peugeot 905 Evo 1 Bis specs, lap times, performance data".
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  8. "Sportscars That Never Raced: 10, the Peugeot 905 Evo 2 'Supercopter'".
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