PEUGEOT’S UGLY DUCKLING

When the going gets bumpier and more rutted, the influence of the road car upon which the competition model is based is arguably even greater. In part, that’s why one of the oddest cars within the World Rally Championship stable since the turn of the millennium struggled for success.

Peugeot scored a hat-trick of WRC manufacturer crowns between 2000 and 2002 with the 206, so its successor had big shoes to fill. But its replacement, the 307, took that rather too literally. Tagged with the unaffectionate nickname ‘The Whale’, the much larger 307 (35cm longer) won just three events – all thanks to Marcus Gronholm.

Now the technical director for Volkswagen Motorsport, Francoisxavier Demaison was Peugeot’s chief rally engineer between 1999 and

2006 and presided over the 307’s introduction in 2004.

“Peugeot wanted us to use a 307 to promote the car,” he says. “But we didn’t want to use the normal [hatchback] because it was like a big shoebox. We said, ‘If you really want to take the 307 then the CC [based on the convertible road car] could be an option’. It had better aero.”

But, having been based on a cabriolet, the 307 struggled for stiffness. To compensate it required a more substantial rollcage, which added further weight and raised the centre of gravity.

Combined with a troublesome dual-clutch gearbox and inferior Pirelli rubber – Michelin introduced a strong gravel tyre – the results were poor.

“You have limited options,” Demaison says. “The engine position has to be similar to the road car – you can move it down and backwards but you only have a certain tolerance. The same with the front suspension mounting points. They’re the two main limiting factors.

“On the outside, you cannot change the bodyshell – if it’s heavy then it’s not so good. You need a small car with a very light bodyshell, a low engine position and good suspension pick-up points.”

Fortunately for Demaison, he found all of those requirements on his move to Volkswagen and enjoyed a clean sweep of WRC title success with the Polo

between 2013 and 2016.

Demaison’s hands were tied over the 307 in 2004