Women and Peugeot competition
The automotive world is one dominated by men, but women also took to the wheel very early on, including to participating in races. The first female driver to participate in an event was the Frenchwoman Camille du Gast in the Paris-Berlin race in 1901 at the wheel of a Panhard et Levassor. Others followed…We invite you to discover below the journey of women drivers at the wheel of a Peugeot. Behind the wheel, women also know how to perform!
Promote new models
Participation in sporting events can be very beneficial not only in terms of creating a “Brand image” but also to demonstrate in racing the reliability of Peugeot cars in competition. At the end of the 1920s and the beginning of the 1930s, the “Maison Peugeot” entered female crews on the Monte-Carlo rally to praise the merits of its 201 and 301 independent suspension systems.
The Monte Carlo Rally
During the “Roaring Twenties”, this rally was gaining in popularity. Europeans are passionate about this atypical regularity race which takes place in the middle of winter and has several starting points in Europe to finish in Monaco. Among the competitors, more and more women are present and a Ladies’ Cup is created to reward the best female crew.
In 1933, Mme Mareuse finished 3rd in this Ladies’ Cup at the wheel of a PEUGEOT 301.
That same year, Peugeot and Charles de Cortanze organized women’s days on the Montlhéry circuit, allowing them to select the best female drivers to take part in the Monte-Carlo Rally and thus promote the brand’s new models, including the 301.
This is how, for example, Simone des Forest and Fernande Hustinx were spotted.
In 1934, the latter set out to conquer the Monte-Carlo Rally aboard a 301 prepared by Charles de Cortanze. They leave from Bucharest, thus taking one of the most difficult routes. At the end of the 3,772 km, often snowy, the two friends finished in a fine 17th place in the general classification and, above all, won the Ladies’ Cup.
After the Second World War, hope was reborn with the 203 finally officially presented at the Paris Motor Show in 1948. This robust car proved to be ideal for rallies: of course that of Monte-Carlo, one of the oldest tests. It is only natural that we find Mme de Cortanze at the wheel of the 203 in 1951, but also in new races such as the Coupe des Alpes or the Liège-Rome-Liège rally.
The same year, Mrs and Miss Hammersley (mother and daughter) won the 203 Coupe des Dames du Tour de France Automobile. Two other 203s complete this podium: Mmes Boeswillwald-Gordine in second position and Mmes Pochon-Mazade in third. Régine Gordine, wife of producer Sacha Gordine, was like her husband a car enthusiast and she did many races, including some with a Peugeot. She took part in the Liège-Rome-Liège in 1953 (with Irène Terray), in the Monte-Carlo in 1954 (still with I. Terray) and in the critérium des Alpes in 1954, each time at the wheel of a Peugeot 203. A serious accident during the 1956 Monte-Carlo put an end to her sporting career.
Team ASEPTOGYL
The “Team Aseptogyl” was created by Bob Neyret in 1971 to promote his… toothpaste!
Fan of car racing, he had the idea of promoting his products on white, red and pink cars, which would only be driven by women. Several models of Peugeot were used, including Peugeot 504s for the Rallye du Bandama in 1973 and the 304 S in 1975 for a rally in Corsica. Driven by Marianne Hoepfner, the 304 finished first in its category at the “Ronde de la Giraglia” in Corsica and won the ladies’ cup at the “Ronde Limousine”.
Rally of the “Bandama”
In 1975, Peugeot triumphed in the Bandama rally (named after the river that crosses Côte d’Ivoire from north to south) by taking the first three places. Victory went to the 504 of Bernard Consten, followed by that of Timo Mäkinen then that of Samir Assef.
That same year, the French Christine Dacremont (driver) and “Ganaëlle” (co-driver) won the Ladies’ Cup in this grueling rally at the wheel of a 504 in the colors of Team Aspetogyl.
Michèle Mouton, a driver apart
It is impossible to talk about women and competition without mentioning this great lady of motor sport. Even if she did not race much for the Marque, it is on board a PEUGEOT 304 S that she started her long sporting career (1973-1986), as co-driver of Jean Taibi in 1973 in Monte-Carlo within the framework of the World Rally Championship (WRC). She finished her career at the wheel of a PEUGEOT 205 T16. After having been a co-driver, Michèle Mouton quickly took the wheel and became French women’s rally champion in 1974, 1975 and 1977. She won her first victory in the Rally of Spain in 1977. In 1981, she was the first woman (and still the only one to date) to win a round of the World Rally Championship (San Remo). In 1982, she won three (Portugal, Greece, Brazil) and was crowned vice-world champion for drivers in an Audi Quattro. In 1985 she won the Pikes Peak race.
In 1986 she joined the Peugeot Talbot Deutschland team and won the German championship at the wheel of a 205 T16, winning 6 of the 8 races on the programme.
In the 90’s, it is Priscille de Belloy (Delecour) who makes sparks fly at the wheel of a PEUGEOT, with her co-driver Laetitia Jourdan. She became French champion in a 106 kit kart in 1996 and in a 106 Maxi in 1997.
