New exhibition at L’Aventure Peugeot Museum!
"Peugeot and competition: 130 years of records and victories!"
L’Aventure Peugeot Museum is thrilled to present its new exhibition from March 21st to September 30th, 2025!
Driven by an unfailing passion for automobiles, the Peugeot brand has always maintained the spirit of competition and innovation. This prestigious heritage spans more than 130 years, marked by resounding success on circuits and courses around the world.
Memorable successes, from the road to the circuit
First race in the world, first victory! PEUGEOT’s history in motor racing began in 1895, when it took part in the very first real timed race: the famous Paris-Bordeaux-Paris. First prize is awarded to the four-seater PEUGEOT of the Koechlin-Rubichon duo (driver and mechanic respectively).
PEUGEOT has written many pages of history in motor racing, with models that have become true icons. The robust PEUGEOT 404 and 504 dominated races in Africa in the 60s and 70s, the legendary 205 T16 made rally history in the 80s, while the 905 and 908 triumphed at the 24 hours of Le Mans in 1992-1993 and 2009 respectively. The 405 T16 and the 208 T16 Pikes Peak also put their name at the top of the most famous American hill climb in 1988, 1989 and 2013. Victories on the Dakar (7 titles in total) between 1987 and 1990, then between 2016 and 2018, consolidated PEUGEOT’s position as a key player in motor racing.
PEUGEOT has not only marked the history of competition cars, but also that of two wheels. The exhibition will celebrate in particular, the 10 victories of the Tour de France between 1905 and 1977, as well as the 9 records of the P515 motorcycle (including that of the 3000 km achieved at an average speed of 118.162 km/h) in 1934.
An animated retrospective
Relive these incredible exploits through a unique exhibition, where you can discover a selection of archive images and emblematic models from the history of PEUGEOT in competition. Among the 40 cars on display for this retrospective, you will be able to admire the TYPE 3 (which took part in the 1891 Paris-Brest-Paris cycle race ; noticeable automobile among the hundreds of bicycles), the 302 Darl’mat Sport, the 404 from the East African Safari, the 504 Coupé V6, the 205 T16, the 908 HDI, or even the spectacular PEUGEOT 3008 DKR MAXI. And many other models that have helped shape the legend of the brand!
Gatherings and events will complete this retrospective. Stay connected!
This exceptional exhibition immerses you in the world of PEUGEOT competition, where cars, motorcycles and bicycles come together to tell a story of passion, innovation, records and victories.
An event not to be missed for all motorsport enthusiasts!
A BRIEF HISTORY OF PEUGEOT IN COMPETITION
First race in the world, first victory!
The history of PEUGEOT in motor racing began 130 years ago.
It was in June 1895 that the first real timed automobile race took place; this is the famous “Paris-Bordeaux-Paris” race. The first prize was awarded to the four-seater PEUGEOT of the Koechlin – Rubichon duo (driver and mechanic respectively).
A revolutionary engine
The 20th century started very quickly. PEUGEOT wants to reach 150 km/h at a time when the cars sold only reach 50-60 km/h. To do this, PEUGEOT and the “Charlatans” invented, designed and manufactured a revolutionary engine, the PEUGEOT L76 engine.
THE racing car everyone has been waiting for. Its chassis is classic but very light compared to the competition’s spar structures. The engine is a 4-cylinder 7,600 cm3 monobloc, given at the time for a power of 148 horsepower at 2,200 rpm. But what makes this vehicle truly exceptional is the unique distribution system of its engine.
DOHC engine (double overhead camshaft), hemispherical cylinder head, 4 valves inclined at 45° per cylinder. The valves being controlled when going up and down, this desmodromic control makes it possible to increase the rotational speed of the engine and therefore to increase its power with a lower displacement.
This engine is neither the first “4 valves per cylinder” nor the first “double overhead camshaft”, nor the first hemispherical cylinder head, but it is the first in the world to combine all three techniques, together. Thus, the Charlatans gave birth to the world’s first truly modern racing car. Maximum speed: 190 km/h!
The engineers of the time already said: “There will be before and after L76”.
A car that Jules Goux would drive to victory at the ACF French Grand Prix in 1912 and even internationally on the legendary Indianapolis circuit in 1913.
Other racing PEUGEOTs L3 (1913), L45 (1914), or L25 (1914), enjoy success on circuits and races around the world.
Competition, a vector of promotion
In the 1930s, PEUGEOT aims to associate sport with production vehicles, a way of promoting its models. With the successful launch of the 201 in 1929, PEUGEOT added quantity to quality and entered mass production. Although no competition version was developed, many 201s participated (with private drivers) in rallies of this era.
After demonstrating its speed qualities, PEUGEOT wants to prove that its cars are solid and reliable, a true guarantee of quality. In the 50s, 60s and 70s, PEUGEOT entered 203s but especially 403s, 204s, 304s, 404s and 504s on the most difficult rallies for both the drivers and the mechanics.
In the 1980s, the Lion firm distinguished itself in the world rally championship with the 205 T16 then on rally raids, in particular the Paris-Dakar. These victories contribute to the commercial success of the 205 for everyone!
The 405 T16 took over the Dakar victories in 1989 and 1990 (even achieving a hat-trick that year). In 1988 and 1989, this model also won the legendary Pikes Peak hill climb (with an unrivaled record on dirt road in 1988).
The 306 Maxi took part in a few asphalt rallies in the world championship between 1996 and 1998 with flying colors!
The 2000s marked PEUGEOT’s great return to the WRC (World Rally Championship). The 206 allowed PEUGEOT to win the title of World Manufacturers’ Champion for three years running in 2000, 2001 and 2002!
High speed!
It wasn’t until the beginning of the 1990s that PEUGEOT was once again an official team on the circuits, particularly that of Sarthe. With the 905, PEUGEOT participates in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and enters the World Endurance Championship. The 905 continues with victory after victory: Suzuka, Magny-Cours, Mexico, Silverstone, Donington, and above all wins the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1992 and 1993 (part of a historic hat-trick).
PEUGEOT did not quite experience the same success in Formula 1, an adventure in which the Brand engaged from 1994 to 2000 (equipping the McLarens, then the Jordans and finally the Prost Grand Prix, with its engines).
In 2005, PEUGEOT announced its decision to take on a new technological challenge: winning one of the most prestigious automobile races in the world, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with a car powered by an HDi diesel engine, equipped with a particulate filter (FAP). A successful challenge with the double of the 908 HDI FAP in 2009.
