Peugeot RCZ racers set to tackle 'Ring

Peugeot tasted Le Mans glory last June with its all-conquering 908 HDi FAP racer, but it's now set to broaden its diesel-powered racing efforts.

The French carmaker recently unveiled a race-prepped version of its slinky RCZ coupe and the vehicle in question (two of them, actually) will tackle the 24 Hours of Nürburgring on May 15/16.

The timing works out rather well for Peugeot as it coincides with the company's bicentennial.

The driver line-up includes a mix of pro racers and senior Peugeot personnel, including vice chairman of the supervisory board Jean-Philippe Peugeot, chassis engineer Stéphane Caillet and marketing bods Cyrus Ayari and Oliver Perez.

The cars are powered by standard 147kW 2.0-litre HDi engines and the only tweaks are to brakes, tyres and suspension, plus of course the mandatory safety gear (roll cages, fire extinguishers, etc). There's also a fixed rear wing to maximise high-speed stability around the perilous Nordschleife -- otherwise known as "The Green Hell".

Although the twice-around-the-clock race will enable Peugeot to gather some valuable durability data, it will also serve as a clever marketing exercise, as the event attracts 220,000 spectators.

The cars will be competing in the D1T category (diesel cars between 1700 and 2000cc), and they will be numbered 200 and 201, "to symbolise 200 years of industrial adventure of the brand".

The RCZ launches here in July and the local line-up will include 1.6-litre turbo petrol versions, as well as the 2.0-litre turbodiesel that's being primed for the Nürburgring enduro.

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