Pikes Peak racers are, almost by tradition,
mad-looking things
. The extravagant aero packages, ludicrously wide tracks, and hilariously distorted bodywork that are a feature of most are testament to the insane demands placed on both car and driver throughout the event. A vertical climb of 1,438 metres, with the associated rapid decline in air density that fatigues the driver and strangles the car; 156 corners, many with a vertical drop on one side and a rock face on t’other; a maximum road grade of 10.5 per cent with a course average of seven per cent. These are just a few of the delights that await each and every competitor. Oh, and you’ve got to drive pretty quickly while you’re at it, too – did we mention that bit?
So it’s no surprise that Pikes Peak competitors usually need something... well... a bit barmy, really. And with their sights firmly set on the 9:46.164 course record that Rhys Millen set in a Hyundai Genesis last year, Red Bull and Peugeot Sport will be entering the fray with something that fits that bill perfectly: the 208 T16. Driven by Seb Loeb, this monstrous bit of kit bears little relation to the road-going 208, somewhat unsurprisingly – under the skin, in fact, it’s got more to do with Peugeot’s 908 HDi FAP Le Mans racer, which is largely down to the course’s recent switch from a loose surface to tarmac. In name, though, it harks back to the equally bonkers 405 T16 with which Peugeot won its last forays at the Peak back in 1988 and 1989.
To celebrate the fact that car manufacturers still feel the urge to go and hurl bits of terrifyingly expensive machinery at an American mountain, here’s a shot of the 208 T16’s rather indiscreet backside, which gives a prime view of its monumental width, as well as the 908-sourced rear wing. Enjoy!