In the history of unusual minivans, it's not just the Renault Espace F1 that stands out. Peugeot also offered a sporty version of its 806. More precisely, a racing version that competed in the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in 1995. At the time, as the person in charge of Peugeot’s advertising budget and the Procar championship, Pascal Witmeur decided to attempt the impossible and prove that a Sochaux-built minivan was far from being just a simple van. The presented vehicle is delivered without an engine.
The one and only minivan to have started the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in 1995 and competed in an international endurance race! Surely the most famous race car in the Kingdom of Belgium! Driven by Pascal Witmeur, driver, agent, and promoter of the Procar, but also responsible for Peugeot’s advertising budget in Belgium, this 806 began its transformation in May 1995 to become a real race car. Thanks to the financial support of Peugeot and the technical teams from Kronos Racing, it appeared at the start of the race two months later with the 12th fastest time on the grid and 3rd in its category! A concentration of technology, the engine is a 2-liter 4-cylinder from a 306 Maxi, delivering 280 horsepower; the suspension comes from a 405 Mi16 Supertourisme, and the body, sourced from Peugeot’s factory in Hauts-de-France, was (in addition to body reinforcements) strengthened with a custom-made AMP roll cage. More than just a race car, it was a marketing genius that captivated the crowd in the stands and the paddocks, where the competition wasn’t too happy about being slower than a 'family car'! The car’s retirement in the 10th hour due to an engine failure did not affect the final result. The car, in the colors of Walibi and the weekly magazine Le Vif - L'Express, was kept in the Kronos Racing team’s collection until the death of its founder Jean-Pierre Montron. In the hands of its second owner, some repairs were made, particularly on the suspension.
Prepared from May 1995 for the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, this Peugeot 806 was entrusted to Kronos Racing with the support of Peugeot. Drawing from the successful parts bank of the 306 Maxi and the 406 Supertourisme, this minivan retained its chassis but received a 2.0L engine producing 280 horsepower and high-performance suspension. This extraordinary preparation propelled the trio E. Bachelart / Ph. Verellen / P. Witmeur to the sixth row on the starting grid.
Encountering various issues due to the highly specific demands of such a unique vehicle, the car did not finish the race but left its mark on the history of Spa-Francorchamps.
Pascal Witmeur: “Every time we went through Raidillon, people applauded [...] The public loved it because, apart from being unusual, it often ended up on two wheels.”
The car can be seen at Gipimotor (Evere - Belgium) by appointment only
