The cars

Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 and E2

Photo: _morgado via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

In 1981 Peugeot made a bold decision. It would return to rallying with a car based not on an existing sports car, but on a family hatchback that had yet to be unveiled: the 205. The rally version shared little more than its headlights and the shape of its grille with the road car.

Grouve Sport documentary

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

How Jean Todt turned a family hatchback into a champion.

A team built from scratch

Peugeot Talbot Sport was set up under Jean Todt, himself a former rally co-driver. The technical design was led by, among others, André de Cortanze. The concept: a transverse turbocharged four-cylinder behind the seats, four-wheel drive, and a car as short and light as possible. The 205’s dimensions forced compact solutions, but they also gave a short wheelbase and low inertia in corners. More under Peugeot Talbot Sport.

1984: a learning year with three wins

The 205 T16 made its debut in Corsica in May 1984. Ari Vatanen was immediately among the quickest until he went off the road. After a few more events came the first win, on the 1000 Lakes in August, followed by Sanremo and the RAC Rally. See 1984 season.

The most successful Group B car: 16 world rally wins, two manufacturers’ and two drivers’ titles.

1985: dominance and the E2

In 1985 the 205 T16 won seven world rallies. Vatanen won Monte Carlo and Sweden, and Timo Salonen took five wins and the title. From Corsica 1985 Peugeot ran the Evolution 2 (E2): lighter, with a larger turbo, more power and aerodynamic changes including a large rear wing. Vatanen suffered his huge accident in an E2 in Argentina. See 1985 season.

1986: title defence and the Sanremo row

In 1986 Peugeot again won both titles. Kankkunen won in Sweden, Greece and New Zealand; Salonen in Finland and Britain; Bruno Saby in Corsica. In Sanremo the 205s were excluded over the aerodynamic skirts under the car; FISA later annulled the result. After the Group B ban, team boss Jean Todt took legal action against FISA, without success.

Drivers

Ari Vatanen, Timo Salonen, Juha Kankkunen, Bruno Saby, Jean-Pierre Nicolas, Carlos Reutemann (guest appearance in Argentina 1985), Stig Blomqvist (Argentina 1986) and Michèle Mouton (German champion in 1986 in a 205 T16 run by Peugeot Germany).

European and national championships

Peugeot Talbot Deutschland won the German championship twice with the 205 T16: Kalle Grundel in 1985 and Michèle Mouton in 1986. Andrea Zanussi raced a 205 T16 in Italy in 1986, finishing second on the Costa Smeralda and the Targa Florio. See the German championship.

Results in the World Rally Championship

World Rally Championship podiums of the car (all evolutions), year by year (1982–1986). win 2nd 3rd

1982

0wins

0 podiums

1983

0wins

0 podiums

1984

3wins

3 podiums

• 1000 Lakes Rally (Finland)
• Rallye Sanremo
• RAC Rally (Great Britain)

1985

7wins

13 podiums

• Monte Carlo Rally
• Swedish Rally
• Rally de Portugal
• Acropolis Rally (Greece)
• Rally New Zealand
• Rally Argentina
• 1000 Lakes Rally (Finland)

1986

6wins

12 podiums

• Swedish Rally
• Tour de Corse
• Acropolis Rally (Greece)
• Rally New Zealand
• 1000 Lakes Rally (Finland)
• RAC Rally (Great Britain)

16 WRC wins · 28 podium finishes, 1982–1986

Photo gallery 4 photos

Historic Group B cars photographed at events, demonstrations and museums; each caption states where and when.

Further resources

• Motor Sport: Peugeot 205 T16 EN · article · subscription
  Feature on the mid-engined Peugeot that won two world titles.
• FIA homologation: Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 (form B-262) EN · archive
  The FIA's homologation record with dates, extensions and the scanned form.
• Peugeot 205 T16 (Rally Giants) — Graham Robson (Veloce, 2007) EN · book
  The 205 T16 story, from conception to its two world titles. ISBN 9781845841294.
• Peugeot 205 T16 Group B Rally Car Enthusiasts' Manual — Nick Garton (Haynes, 2020) EN · book
  Technical guide to the 205 T16 and its evolutions. ISBN 9781785212512.
• Peugeot Sport: our heritage EN · article
  Peugeot Sport's timeline, from the 205 Turbo 16 in rallying onwards.

All Group B resources →

More from Cars

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Sources

1. Wikipedia (EN), Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peugeot_205_Turbo_16
2. Wikipedia (EN), Jean Todt — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Todt
3. DirtFish, Rally Finland: The Group B Years (2024) — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94zXOaTeFXg
4. eWRC-results — https://www.ewrc-results.com/

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

Thumbnail photos on this page: MrWalkr (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0); SG2012 (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0); Alf van Beem (Wikimedia Commons, Public domain); Calreyn88 (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0); Miloslav Rejha (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0); Jiří Sedláček (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0).