2005 Peugeot 307 WRX #7
Pilots: M. Grönholm / T. Rautiainem
Team: Marlboro Peugeot Total
Race: 3rd overall (WRC class) at the Deutschland Rally 2005
AUTOart - 60556 (diecast)
Published 06/24/26
Formed in 1981, Peugeot Sport was Peugeot’s racing arm. More specifically, it was their rallying arm. In 1984 they developed the 205 T16, one of the inglorious Group B Monsters. However, with the demise of Group B, they abandoned rallying. But in 1999 they came back to the dirt, with the 206 WRC. And just like the 205 T16, the 206 WRC delivered. With the always colorful Marcus Grönholm at the wheel, the 206 WRC won the WRC in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Yet, despite the success of the 206 WRC, Peugeot’s higher-ups were already thinking about its successor. Work on the new 307 WRC began at the end of 2000, based on the new 307 hatch. However, that’s when the Marketing department stepped in. Since the new 307 CC (Coupé Cabriolet) was about to come out, they wanted the CC as the base car.
In fact, Marketing was adamant about the 307 CC; if it wasn’t possible, then Peugeot should stick with the 206 WRC. Turning a cabriolet into a WRC-legal car was no small feat, yet Peugeot Sport managed. In fact, the CC’s lower roof and narrower body, compared to the regular 306, produced an aerodynamic bonus. The chassis had a unitary steel construction, with a McPherson suspension system with shock absorbers front and back. The engine was the same one used in Citroën’s Xsara WRC, the XU7JP4. It was an aluminum inline-4, transversely mounted up front. Displacing 1997 cm³, with a Garrett turbo it delivered 224 kW (300 hp). The gearbox was initially a sequential Hewland 4-speed, but later replaced with a 5-speed unit. The first prototype was ready in December of 2002, and the following year Peugeot Sport’s drivers tested the car.
Peugeot Sport, now Marlboro Peugeot Total, debuted the 307 WRC at the 2004 Monte Carlo Rally. And the car started out well, with the team finishing in fourth and fifth. However, despite the good show at the Monte, the 307 WRC was fraught with reliability issues. The transmission system was especially problematic, demanding the replacement of the 4-speed gearbox with a 5-speed unit. With all the issues, during the 2004 season the 307 WRC only managed seven podiums. The only win took place in Rally Finland, in August. Though fast and with good handling, the 307 WRC just wasn’t reliable. With the poor results, Peugeot finished fourth in the manufacturers’ championship, and Marcus Grönholm fifth in the drivers’ championship. And making things worse, in November 2004, PSA announced that Peugeot (and Citroën) would withdraw from the WRC after 2005 😌.
With just one more season to go, Peugeot was hard-pressed to finish their WRC campaign on a high note. By the end of 2004, Peugeot furiously worked to fix all the issues with the car. For 2005 they also revamped the aero package, to increase downforce and improve cornering. The team also changed their roster, with Markko Märtin and Michael Park joining Grönholm and Rautiainem. And just as important, Pirelli replaced Michelin as Peugeot’s tire supplier. All those changes improved the car’s performance, but it wasn’t enough to beat Sébastien Loeb’s Xsara WRC. By the end of the season, the 307 WRC achieved 10 podiums. However, Grönholm achieved two wins, once again in Finland and in Japan. Grönholm drove this 307 WRC #7 to third place at Rally Deutschland. With that, Peugeot finished second in the manufacturer’s WRC, while Grönholm was second in the driver’s championship.
Well, the 307 WRC did not follow the path set by the 205 T16 or 206 WRC. Looked beautiful, was a very interesting concept, but ultimately, flopped. In fact, Marcus Grönholm had some choice words about it 😂. Nonetheless, I think it looks great. And in model form, is one more reason to mourn AUTOart’s decision to abandon 1:43 😥. A dandy of a 143rd! Especially because this is the night version, with the auxiliary light bar up front. However, AUTOart is not Ixo, so it didn’t come with the decals to complete the livery. Because of the anti-tobacco law, in Germany the Marlboro logo was displayed as the “bar code logo”. I will try to get the correct decals, but since I’ll have to import, it won’t be very easy. If I do, however, I’ll certainly post an update. Wish me luck!