Peugeot 905: Time For Coffee?

2018 marks 25 years since Peugeot's incredible 1-2-3 at Le Mans, so no further excuse required for a vid!

Distinguished as Peugeot has been in international motorsport, it's unlikely that a V10 sportscar would be your first thought when discussing its racing past. The 205 T16 will probably come to mind, as will various rallying 306s and 206s, plus perhaps the 405s and 406s we saw in the BTCC. But a Le Mans sports prototype might take a bit of thinking of, and even then it'll likely be the 908 HDI FAP - Le Mans winner in 2009 - that jogs the memory.

But don't forget the 905! First seen in 1990 for the 1991 season (which brought in new rules), it turned out to be a tremendously successful Peugeot. In 1991 it scored consecutive one-twos at Magny-Cours and Mexico, in 1992 it won Le Mans and in 1993 - 25 years ago this year - the 905 scored a momentous 1-2-3 finish at the 24 Hours. Peugeot left sportscar racing after that victory, not returning for 14 years.

And what a car the 905 was. Using a 3.5-litre V10 (that went into F1 for 1994) making 650hp at 12,500rpm (!), the 905 was as fast as it was staggering to look at and listen to. Indeed, by the time of the 1993 Le Mans triumph, the Evo 1B car was making more than 700hp.

This little onboard video is our gesture to mark 25 years since the 905's final (and greatest) success. Of course it's the noise that's most beguiling, V10 wailing its way to 12,000rpm and beyond, but just look at how quick it is too. We're not talking 919 Evo levels here, of course, although the 905 did weigh less than 800kg. It's searingly rapid, be in no doubt.

Don't forget, either, that if you're sad cars like this don't race at Le Mans anymore, there's every possibility a 905 could be at Le Mans Classic again. Watch this vid and you'll see why the Peugeot might be worth the whole weekend away on its own...