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Bradley Philpot competes in the 24-hour Nürburgring endurance race competition this weekend in a Peugeot Sport-prepared enhanced performance 208 GTi.  Representing the UK, Bradley is joined by three other country-representing drivers from France, Germany and Spain in his team, with two more 208 GTi cars competing in the race in the Sunday / Monday long-distance race.

By way of illustration, and with many on-screen amusing moments, Bradley filmed a lap of the full 14-mile Nordschleife circuit at the Nürburgring in his road-going 208 GTi with his girlfriend at his side. While Bradley calmly gives a commentary of the obstacles and risks ahead, while screeching around the bends, it is the facial expressions of his girlfriend, Rebecca Delaney that makes this film captivating and has so far attracted over 8,500 views.

Born in Southampton, Bradley now lives close to the Silverstone race circuit, is 27 and a Racing Instructor by profession. His racing career shows great achievement:

2013: Autosport Int. Celebrity Kart Race winner / MK Club O-Plate Kart Champion
2012: Ginetta 24 hour Kart Race winner
2011: British 24 hour Kart Race winner / Red Bull Kart Fight Champion.
2010: British 24 hour Kart Race winner / Indoor Kart World Championship Race winner
2009: Reynard Inverter prototype test driver
2007: Toyota MR2 UK Champion
2006: Fastest in Formula Palmer Audi testing

Supporting the launch of 208 GTi

More than 2,000 licensed drivers registered early 2013 on the 208 GTi Racing Experience website to accompany the commercial launch of the 208 GTi. After the national pre-selections, eight ‘208 GTi Ambassadors’ were selected during the International Final in LaFerté Gaucher, to race in the 24H Nürburgring 2013 :

– Bradley PHILPOT – 27 years – United Kingdom
– Mathieu SENTIS – 27 years – France
– Stephane Epp – 25 years – Germany
– Gonzalo MARTIN DE ANDRES – 31 years – Spain
– Giacomo RICCI – 27 years – Italy
– Vincent RADERMECKER – 45 years – Belgium
– Christiaan FRANKENHOUT – 31 years – Netherlands
– Johnny NIEDERHAUSER – 41 years – Switzerland

Essential preparation

The Nürburgring is not totally unknown for some of them (notably Christiaan Frankenhout who finished third overall at the 24H Nürburgring in 2012), but most of the Ambassadors will discover and learn one of the most demanding tracks in the world: the Nordschleife.

In order to do so, they participated in a VLN Test Day (5^th / 6^th April), then in the VLN 2 race (13^th April) and the VLN 3 race (27^th April) with four 208 Racing Cup cars developed and manufactured by Peugeot Sport, before the 24-Hour race at the Nürburgring (19^th /  20^th May). To withstand this special track, Peugeot Sport was tasked to design a 208 GTi with the sole aim of victory in the SP2T category (1600cm³ turbo petrol).

Technical features of the Peugeot Sport 208 GTi

The 208 GTi Peugeot Sport will be the fourth race edition of the 208. It has benefited from the development of its three elders (T16, R2 and Racing Cup) and was thus able to be designed in a very short amount of time. Studies began in December 2012.

The preparation of the first shell began in January 2013 for an early assembly in February and a first drive at the end of the same month. It benefits from the collection of mechanical components developed and tested for 208 T16, 208 R2, 208 Racing Cup and also for RCZ Racing Cup, the latter of which is a benchmark in the SP2T category in Germany with wins in the VLN, 24-Hour Nürburgring 2012 and the Bathurst 12 hours this year.

The Peugeot Sport 208 GTi also benefits from the strengths of the standard 208 GTi model. Like the GTi, it has a 1600 turbo petrol engine tuned from 200 to 300bhp. This engine is accompanied by a 6-speed gearbox operated by paddle shifters. It is equipped with a reinforced braking system, 18” wheels, a 100-litre petrol tank and aerodynamics designed to take advantage from the race regulations to the limits. The overall weight of the car is 990kg.

The race starts at 5pm on Sunday, 19^th May.