Peugeot 207 S2000
The Peugeot 207 S2000 was born from the FIA's Super 2000 regulations, which aimed to reduce rally costs by mandating naturally aspirated two-liter engines, front-wheel drive or homologated four-wheel drive, and sequential gearboxes based on production components. For Peugeot Sport, these regulations presented an opportunity to create a competitive rally car that could dominate the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) — the de facto world championship for S2000-class machinery.
The heart of the 207 S2000 was its engine: a heavily modified version of PSA's EW10 2.0-liter four-cylinder, developed to produce approximately 280 horsepower at a screaming 8,500 rpm. This was a naturally aspirated engine revving to motorcycle-like RPM ranges, using individual throttle bodies, a dry-sump oiling system, and race-specification internal components to extract extraordinary specific output from just two liters of displacement. The sound at full chat was magnificent — a high-pitched wail that echoed through rally stages.
The car ran on front-wheel drive with a limited-slip differential, paired with a six-speed sequential gearbox operated via steering-wheel-mounted paddles. The suspension was fully adjustable with MacPherson struts at all four corners, and the car sat on 18-inch alloy wheels with massive ventilated disc brakes. The body shell was reinforced with a full roll cage and featured composite body panels to save weight, bringing the total down to approximately 1,150 kg.
The 207 S2000 was remarkably successful in competition. It won the IRC championship multiple times, with drivers including Kris Meeke, Nicolas Vouilloz, and Jean-Pierre Vidal taking victories on both tarmac and gravel events. The car proved that front-wheel drive could be devastatingly effective in rally competition when engineered to this level.
Peugeot Sport built the 207 S2000 for customer teams as well as its own works entries. The cars were sold to privateer rally teams at prices that, while substantial, were a fraction of the cost of running a World Rally Car. This accessibility was central to the S2000 concept — bringing professional-level rally competition within reach of well-funded private teams.
Today the 207 S2000 is a highly sought-after competition car. Examples with IRC championship provenance command significant premiums, and the car remains competitive in historic and national-level rally events. It represents the pinnacle of naturally aspirated, front-wheel-drive rally engineering.
The 207 S2000 is a purpose-built competition car and should be evaluated as such. Full rebuild history and a known competition record are essential. The high-revving engine has a limited life between rebuilds — typically 3,000-5,000 competitive kilometers. The sequential gearbox needs regular servicing. Check the roll cage for crash damage — any distortion means the shell is compromised. Peugeot Sport can still support these cars with parts and technical assistance. Ex-works cars with IRC championship history command the highest prices. Budget for ongoing competition maintenance costs.
The 207 S2000 was built by Peugeot Sport at their Vélizy-Villacoublay facility near Paris. Production numbers were limited — approximately 40-50 cars were built for works and customer teams between 2006 and 2012. Each car was hand-built to FIA S2000 specifications. The 207 S2000 succeeded the 206 S1600 and was itself succeeded by the 208 R5 when FIA regulations changed.