With the second edition of Les Grandes Heures Automobiles (LGHA) – to be held from 24-25 September at the celebrated Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry, near Paris – getting ever closer, a number of exciting developments for the 2016 event can now be confirmed, including the following developments:
LGHA PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE GROUP B RALLY MASTERS:
If you’ve ever seen the group B rally cars in action, you won’t forget them in a hurry. And if you’ve heard them in action… well, you’ll never forget them!
Group B was introduced in 1982 as a replacement for Groups 4 and 5 in the World Rally Championship. Group B represented modified Grand Touring cars, at least 200 examples of which had to be produced of each model. In the 1980s, Group B was the ultimate rallying category: it gave engineers a great deal of technical freedom and these resultant cars were notable for their phenomenal power output – in excess of 600 bhp, for less than a tonne!
Sadly, the ever-increasing popularity of these powerful machines resulted in frequent risks and accidents, with the FIA finally banning the exciting Group B rally category on 1 January 1987. Therefore 1986 was the last year for Group B cars, but 30 years later, these frisky rally weapons are still remembered, and enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies continue to dream about them.
Thirty years on, these high-octane rally legends will be seen live in action again at the 2016 LGHA in late September, with more than 20 cars being driven at speed on the steep Montlhéry banking into the night – headlamps ablaze – many reunited with their original drivers.
A few months later, at the 2017 Rétromobileshow, being held at the Expo Porte de Versailles in Paris from 8 to 12 February, the LGHA Group B cars will be in the spotlight once more, as a special feature in a retrospective on the exhibition bridge, linking Halls 1 and2.2.
As well as Group B Peugeot 205 T16s, Audi Quattros, Lancia Delta S4s and Rallye 037s, which were all major parts of this era, rallying BMWs, Citroëns, Ferraris, Fords, Mazdas, MGs, Opels, Renaults, Talbots, and other rare rally cars of the period, will also be in action at the LGHA in September, and later on display at Rétromobile early next year.
Peugeot Joins Forces with the LGHA with the New 3008 Making its World Debut:
With its long and illustrious motor racing history, including a prestigious list of rally and endurance racing wins, new official event partner Peugeot is a natural fit with the 2016 LGHA.
For years, Peugeot’s mainstream business activities have been interspersed and enhanced with daring appearances in legendary motor races and world championships. Peugeot’s list of winners, records and overall history in motor sport are full of wonderful, human moments shared by designers, drivers, engineers, technicians… a whole team whose life and work revolve around motor racing competitions.
Since the banked Linas-Montlhéry circuit it was founded in 1924, the Parisian Autodrome has set the stage for many Peugeot feats; victories including the 1925 ACF Touring Grand Prix, the 1927 ACF Sports Commission Cup, and above all the thirty or so international records set in 1965 by the famous single-seater Peugeot 404 Montlhéryrecord car.
Peugeot will be taking an important part in the big LGHA festival of motor sports, not only by exhibiting a wide range of its historical competition vehicles, but also by presenting the hotly anticipated brand new, second-generation 3008 SUV in an exclusive preview days ahead of it being revealed at the 2016 Paris Motor Show!
There will many Peugeot-related activities in store at the 2016 LGHA, including maiden drives on the banked racetrack, signing sessions by the marque’s most famous drivers, Peugeot car clubs joining many other enthusiasts club at the event… and last but not least, a big competition on Peugeot’s Facebook page to provide a chance for enthusiasts to win VIP access to the Autodrome.
