Discover this magnificent Peugeot 207 S2000 in its red and white livery number 2, faithfully reproducing the version entered at the 2008 Ypres Rally. This miniature perfectly captures the essence of this formidable rally machine driven by the duo Nicolas Vouilloz and Nicolas Klinger.
This reproduction constitutes a valuable testament to Peugeot's commitment to motorsport, particularly during the era of S2000 cars that marked European rally championships.
Features of the miniature
- Model: Peugeot 207 S2000
- Brand: Peugeot
- Year: 2008
- Scale: 1/43
- Color: Red and white
- Number: 2
- Drivers: Nicolas Vouilloz / Nicolas Klinger
- Protective case included: Yes
The Peugeot 207 S2000 in competition
The Peugeot 207 S2000 was developed in 2007 to meet the new regulations of the S2000 category, gradually replacing the old Group A and N cars. This category imposed atmospheric engines with a maximum of 2 liters, developing around 280 horsepower, with sophisticated all-wheel drive.
Built on the base of the standard 207, this rally version benefited from a completely revised chassis, a lightweight and reinforced body, as well as a specially prepared 2.0-liter 16-valve engine. Its exemplary road behavior and reliability made it one of the references in its category.
The 2008 Ypres Rally was an important round of the Belgian rally championship, known for its fast stages on cobblestone roads, particularly demanding for the machines and drivers.
Peugeot and motorsport
In 2008, Peugeot was undergoing a transitional period in its motorsport strategy. After resounding successes in the World Rally Championship with the 205 T16, 206 WRC, and 307 WRC, the lion brand focused on national and regional championships with its S2000 models.
This approach allowed Peugeot to maintain its presence in rallying while developing a private customer base, as the 207 S2000s were sold to independent teams. This strategy was in line with the brand's sporting DNA, heir to a long tradition of success in competition since the 1980s.
Nicolas Vouilloz: from MTB to rally
The story of this Peugeot 207 S2000 is inseparable from that of Nicolas Vouilloz, an atypical figure in French motorsport. A ten-time world champion in downhill mountain biking between 1992 and 2001, Vouilloz was a true cycling legend before his automotive transition.
His transition to rallying in 2002 surprised the sporting world. Yet, the qualities that had made him successful in MTB - precision, trajectory sense, risk management - proved perfectly suited to driving on gravel and asphalt. His methodical approach and exceptional adaptability allowed him to quickly establish himself among the rally specialists.
At the 2008 Ypres Rally, Vouilloz discovered the specifics of the Belgian cobblestone roads, a particularly challenging exercise that requires a constant adaptation of driving. These cobbles, real traps for suspensions and traction, are one of the most feared difficulties by European rally drivers.
This race perfectly illustrated Vouilloz's versatility, capable of adapting to all terrains, a quality inherited from his MTB career where the courses constantly varied between rocks, roots, and loose soil.
Complete your miniature collection
This Peugeot 207 S2000 will naturally find its place alongside other iconic models from the Peugeot collection, particularly the legendary 205 T16 and 206 WRC that have marked the history of world rallying.
Rally fans will appreciate being able to reconstruct the evolution of sporting regulations, from the mythical race cars of the 1980s to the modern S2000. This miniature appeals to both collectors specializing in French cars and motorsport enthusiasts wishing to preserve the memory of the 2000s, a pivotal period in modern rallying.
