Peugeot RCZ takes on Bathurst

Peugeot Sport will field two RCZ sportscars in the 2013 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour international endurance race at Mount Panorama over February 8-10.

The only factory-backed team so far confirmed for the day-long production car race at Bathurst will do battle with at least 52 other entries announced this week, including 20 overseas entries.

Also entered in the RCZ’s I1 class is a Mazda RX-7s, MINI Cooper S and Lotus Elise, joining international teams from the US, UK, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, France, Singapore, Hong Kong and New Zealand.

They will field production-based models including the Ferrari 458, Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4, Porsche GT3 Cup, Audi R8, BMW Z4, Chevrolet Corvette and Ford GT, while local teams will race everything from the Lotus Exige, Nissan GT-R and Subaru WRX STi to the HSV Astra VXR, FPV GT and BMW 130i, 135i and 335i.

For the first time next year, the Bathurst 12 Hour will host the first round of the 2013 Australian GT Championship, competitors in which will contest the first hour of the main race.

The pair of race-prepped RCZ's are powered by production-based 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engines tuned to deliver 190kW/290Nm – up from the standard RCZ Coupe’s 147kW/275Nm. In race trim, the sleek RCZ will weigh 120kg less than the showroom model, which sprints to 100km/h in a claimed 7.5 seconds.

An updated version of the $54,990 Peugeot RCZ will be launched in March 2013, featuring a more aggressive design.

If the recently confirmed Bathurst tilt yields good results, it may also be a precursor for the local launch of the stove-hot RCZ R road car, which would partner the upcoming 208 GTI hot-hatch in a fresh performance car assault from Peugeot.

It has been two decades since Peugeot last raced competitively at The Mountain, with motorsport legend Peter Brock sharing driving duties with fellow racer Neil Crompton and journalist Paul Gover in a Peugeot 405 Mi16 to finish 14th outright and second in class in the Bathurst 12 Hour in the '90s.

The idea 20 years ago was to try and get Australian's to stop pronouncing the brand 'pee-you-gee-ot'. It had limited success.

Peugeot Sport will prepare two RCZ racecars for the gruelling event in early 2013, with larger 100-litre fuel tanks being a priority for the 12-hour event on the challenging road circuit.

Both cars' suspension will also be recalibrated, new bodywork will be fitted to improve aerodynamics and around 120kg of weight will be stripped out.

The French cars will compete in the new Invitational Class, designated I1 for cars up to 1600cc. The lead car will be driven exclusively by French men Stephane Caillet, Bruce Jouanny and Julien Rueflin, all three of which have driven diesel-powered factory RCZs in the Nurburgring 24-hour race.

Peugeot Automobiles Australia says it will reveal the drivers of the second Bathurst RCZ soon, but has confirmed they will be Australian.

It is rumoured that former world motorcycle GP champion Mick Doohan and PAA General Manager Bill Gillespie may be among them.

"An event like the Bathurst 12 Hour is a great toe in the water in Australia as it shows off the racing capability of the RCZ but also reinforces the reliability of the cars as well," said Mr Gillespie.

"Peugeot has a long history of involvement in motorsport and we are keen to rebuild that DNA in the brand."