The Peugeot 208 T16 might already be a great machine to behold, but is it all for show and no go for this mean hill-climber? To find out, this Pikes Peak Unlimited-Class competitor takes a day out to Mont Ventoux at the south of France, where the 875-horsepower machine roared across the French mountains for a test run.
While the famous Colorado hill climb takes the cars to an astounding altitude of 4,301 meters, Mont Ventoux could only reach up to 1,909 meters. But for the time being, the course serves as a critical test platform as it provides a similar environment to Pikes Peak.
“This is an important run because Pikes Peak is very different from a nice, smooth race track. It is vital for us to evaluate the car on a terrain that is more like what we will find in the States”, said rally prodigy Sebastien Loeb.
Apparently the massive power of the Peugeot no longer amazes Loeb, as he now needs to familiarize to driving at the hills where the conditions are nothing like one would find on a race track.
“It’s the speed at which the corners leap out at you which is more striking than round a circuit where there’s always a ‘100-metre’ board to show you where to brake. Here, you can be in fifth or sixth gear and you suddenly see mountainside ahead of you; you have to work out for yourself where you need to brake…”
The 208 T16 and Loeb will be making an appearance at Pikes Peak next month, where they will begin testing the car on June 8 for the June 30 race.
