Peugeot Talbot Sport

Peugeot Talbot Sport was founded in 1981 by Jean Todt, who had just helped Talbot to the manufacturers’ world title as Guy Fréquelin’s co-driver. Peugeot chief Jean Boillot asked him to set up a competition department — at a time when the group was under severe financial pressure.

Team profile

Base8 rue Paul Bert, Boulogne-Billancourt (near Paris)
Team leadershipJean Todt (director of motorsport from 1981)
EngineeringAndré de Cortanze (technical director in the 1980s)
CarsPeugeot 205 Turbo 16, 205 T16 E2; later 205 and 405 T16 Grand Raid
DriversAri Vatanen, Jean-Pierre Nicolas, Timo Salonen, Bruno Saby, Juha Kankkunen; co-drivers Harryman, Harjanne, Piironen, Fauchille
Titlesmanufacturers 1985 and 1986; drivers 1985 (Salonen) and 1986 (Kankkunen)
Grouve Sport documentary

Episode 3 — The Peugeot Revolution: 205 Turbo 16, Todt & Vatanen (1984–85)

How Jean Todt built a world-beating team from nothing.

People

Jean Todt competed as a co-driver from 1966 to 1981 and represented the drivers on FISA’s rally commission. As team boss he stood for discipline and planning. After Group B he took Peugeot into other disciplines and later ran Ferrari in Formula 1. From 2009 to 2021 he was president of the FIA.

André de Cortanze came from Alpine and became technical director of Peugeot Talbot Sport. See designers and engineers.

Jean Todt as Ferrari team principal at the 1997 British Grand Prix.
Jean Todt as Ferrari team principal at the 1997 British Grand Prix.Photo: Tony Harrison via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

Results

  • 1984: the 205 T16 makes its debut in Corsica. Ari Vatanen wins the 1000 Lakes, Sanremo and the RAC.
  • 1985: Vatanen wins Monte Carlo and Sweden, but crashes heavily in Argentina. Timo Salonen wins five rallies and the title; Peugeot wins seven of the twelve rallies and the manufacturers’ crown.
  • 1986: Juha Kankkunen wins three rallies and the title, Salonen two and Saby one (Corsica). Peugeot is excluded in Sanremo over the cars’ ‘skirts’; after Peugeot’s protest, FISA annuls the whole rally.

From 1981 Jean Todt built a team that conquered the world within three years. With the 205 T16: manufacturers’ titles in 1985 and 1986, and drivers’ titles for Salonen and Kankkunen.

Stories

Todt’s approach was methodical: a compact, quick-to-repair car with a transverse mid-mounted engine, and a team that operated like an army.

European and national championships

Peugeot’s German importer won the German championship with the 205 T16 in 1985 (Kalle Grundel) and 1986 (Michèle Mouton). See the German championship.

In pictures 2 photos

A 205 T16 in its original 1984 specification, roughly 200 kg lighter than the Audi Quattro.
A 205 T16 in its original 1984 specification, roughly 200 kg lighter than the Audi Quattro.Photo: Kieran White from Manchester, England via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 at a rally car exhibition in El Pinar, Uruguay, 2023
Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 at a rally car exhibition in El Pinar, Uruguay, 2023Photo: NaBUru38 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Further resources

All Group B resources →

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Sources

  1. Wikipedia (EN), Peugeot Talbot Sport — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peugeot_Talbot_Sport
  2. Wikipedia (EN), Jean Todt — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Todt
  3. Wikipedia (EN), André de Cortanze — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9_de_Cortanze
  4. Wikipedia (EN), Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peugeot_205_Turbo_16

All text is original writing for Grouve Sports Management Group, based on the sources above. Facts checked on 21 October 2026.

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