BTC-T Peugeot 406 Coupé
{{Infobox racing car
| Car_name = BTC-T Peugeot 406 Coupe
| Image = John George - Peugeot 406 Coupe at the 2004 BTCC, Donington (50958247438).jpg
| Caption = John George driving the Mardi Gras Motorsport Peugeot 406 Coupé at Donington Park during the 2004 British Touring Car Championship season.
| Category = BTCC
| Constructor = Vic Lee Racing
| Designer =
| Team = Peugeot Sport UK/Team Halfords
Mardi Gras Motorsport
| Drivers = Steve Soper
Dan Eaves
Matt Neal
Aaron Slight
Carl Breeze
Tim Harvey
John George
| Chassis = Peugeot 406 Coupe
| Front suspension =
| Rear suspension =
| Length = {{convert|4700|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| Width = {{convert|1892|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| Height = {{convert|1390|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| Wheelbase = {{convert|2700|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| Track = {{convert|1860|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| Engine name =
| Capacity = {{convert|2000|cc|cuin|1|abbr=on}}
| Configuration = In-line 4
| Turbo/NA = NA
| Engine position = front-mounted, FWD
| Gearbox name = Xtrac
| Gears = 6-speed
| Type = Sequential
| Differential =
| Weight = {{convert|1150|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}} (with driver)
| Fuel =
| Tyres =
| Debut = 2001 BTCC at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit
| Races = 55
| Wins = 0
| Cons_champ = 0
| Drivers_champ = 0
| Teams_champ = 0
| Poles = 0
| Fastest_laps = 0
}}
The BTC-T Peugeot 406 Coupé is a BTC-Touring class racing car that was built for the 2001 British Touring Car Championship season by Vic Lee Racing, who were selected to run Peugeot's official works program for that season.
2001 season
After a successful 2000 BTCC season, having won the driver's championship for Class B,{{cite web|author=BTCCPages.com |url=http://www.btccpages.com/rounds/2000/ |title=British Touring Car Championship |publisher=BTCC Pages |access-date=2012-12-24}} Vic Lee Racing signed a deal with Peugeot to run in the BTC Touring-class for the 2001 BTCC season.{{cite web|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/11667 |title=Peugeot confirms BTCC return - BTCC news |publisher=Autosport.Com |date=2000-10-06 |access-date=2012-12-24}} VLR built 3 406 Coupes, and hired Dan Eaves, Steve Soper and Matt Neal as their drivers,{{cite web|url=http://www.crash.net/btcc/news/6768/1/peugeot_unveils_2001_contender.html |title=Peugeot unveils 2001 contender | BTCC News | Jan 2001 |publisher=Crash.Net |date=2001-01-12 |access-date=2012-12-24}} but sponsorship issues led to releasing Neal after the first round,{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/1298392.stm |title=BBC SPORT | MOTORSPORT | Neal leaves Peugeot team |publisher=BBC News |date=2001-04-26 |access-date=2012-12-24}} being replaced by ex-motorcycle racer Aaron Slight in several rounds.{{cite web|url=http://www.autoweb.com.au/cms/A_53989/title_Aaron-Slight-Joins-Peugeot-in-BTCC/newsarticle.html |title=Aaron Slight Joins Peugeot in BTCC - AutoWeb News |publisher=Autoweb.com.au |access-date=2012-12-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327223449/http://www.autoweb.com.au/cms/A_53989/title_Aaron-Slight-Joins-Peugeot-in-BTCC/newsarticle.html |archive-date=2012-03-27 }} Neal would go on to be critical of the Peugeot effort. The campaign was unsuccessful, with the best results being a trio of 3rd places from Soper at Mondello Park (he was 4th on the road with Production Class winner James Kaye finishing 2nd) and Eaves, at Oulton Park{{cite web |url=http://www.touring-cars.net/results/2001/rd20.php |title=TouringCars.net » Results » 2001 » Oulton Park Island Round 20 Results |website=www.touring-cars.net |access-date=6 June 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130222174407/http://www.touring-cars.net/results/2001/rd20.php |archive-date=22 February 2013 |url-status=dead}} and the last round of the season, held at the Brands Hatch Indy circuit.{{cite web |url=http://www.touring-cars.net/results/2001/rd26.php |title=TouringCars.net » Results » 2001 » Brands Hatch Indy Round 26 Results |website=www.touring-cars.net |access-date=6 June 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130222091834/http://www.touring-cars.net/results/2001/rd26.php |archive-date=22 February 2013 |url-status=dead}} The car's large size limited its agility and made it less competitive than its rivals.{{Cite news|url=https://www.autosport.com/btcc/news/154616/in-defence-of-the-vauxhall-astra-coupe|title=Vauxhall Astra Coupe: In defence of an unheralded BTCC champion|work=Autosport|last=Kew|first=Matt|date=17 January 2021|access-date=17 January 2021}}
2002 season
After the poor performances in 2001, Peugeot withdraw their works support, choosing instead to focus on their more successful World Rally Championship campaign.{{cite web|url=http://www.crash.net/btcc/news/7041/1/rallying_the_reason_for_peugeots_btcc_exit.html |title=Rallying the reason for Peugeot's BTCC exit | BTCC News | Nov 2001 |publisher=Crash.Net |date=2001-11-02 |access-date=2012-12-24}} The team, in 2002, now renamed Team Halfords after gaining sponsorship from Halfords,{{cite web|url=http://www.crash.net/btcc/news/7120/1/vlr_teams_up_with_halfords_for_btcc.html |title=VLR teams up with Halfords for BTCC | BTCC News | Mar 2002 |publisher=Crash.Net |date=2002-03-19 |access-date=2012-12-24}} continued racing with the 406. Eaves stayed with the team, while 1992 champion Tim Harvey and Carl Breeze joined the team. A second unsuccessful season followed; with the best result being a second place from Eaves in the opening round at Brands Hatch.{{cite web|url=http://www.btccpages.com/rounds/2002/1_2/sprintrace.php |title=2002 - Rounds 1 & 2 at Brands Hatch |publisher=BTCC Pages |access-date=2012-12-24}} Harvey added a 2nd podium with 3rd in race 2 at the second Brands Hatch meeting. Despite the lack of overall competitiveness, Dan Eaves and Tim Harvey finished the season 1st and 3rd respectively in the Independents Cup.{{cite web|author=BTCCPages.com |url=http://www.btccpages.com/points2002.php |title=2002 BTCC Points |publisher=BTCCPages.com |date=2009-04-05 |access-date=2012-12-24}} For 2003, the team switched to the Sergio Rinland designed Peugeot 307, with the hope of gaining more competitiveness.{{cite web|author=BTCCPages.com |url=http://www.btccpages.com/news/030411hal.php |title=British Touring Car Championship |publisher=BTCC Pages |access-date=2012-12-24}}
2004 season
The 406 Coupes remained unused in 2003, but halfway through the 2004 season, Mardi Gras Motorsport decided to replace their LPG-powered, Super 2000-specification Honda Civic with a 406 Coupe.{{cite web |url=http://www.mardigras.co.uk/history.htm |title=Mardi Gras Motorsport |publisher=Mardigras.co.uk |access-date=2012-12-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060329/http://www.mardigras.co.uk/history.htm |archive-date=2016-03-04 |url-status=dead }} The car proved barely more successful than its predecessor - finishing no higher than a 12th place at Knockhill in the 4 rounds it entered.{{cite web|url=http://www.btccpages.com/rounds/2004/19_20_21/race1.php |title=2004 - Rounds 19 & 20 & 21 at Knockhill |publisher=BTCC Pages |access-date=2012-12-24}} The car did not reappear for the 2005 season.
References
{{reflist}}
{{BTC-T Cars}}{{Peugeot}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:BTC-T Peugeot 406 Coupe}}
Category:British Touring Car Championship