WorldRX Inside: the cockpit of the Peugeot 208 WRX
Welcome on-board! The 208 WRX uses a production body shell which is stripped of everything superficial to requirements. Timmy Hansen and Davy Jeanney’s ‘office’ has been radically simplified and all they have in their line of sight are two digital displays which tell them which gear they are in and provide them with engine-related data.
One part of the cockpit that has escaped this minimalist treatment, however, is the steering wheel, only three of which have been made. It is lined with buttons and switches which allow the drivers to adjust the handling of their 208 WRX while racing! Their most important weapon is the red switch which they press on the start line, instantly transforming their car into a rocket ready for launching. It activates the ‘performance’ mode which modifies the tick-over in order to pre-rev the engine to the ideal getaway speed. It also increases the amount of fuel injected into the cylinders and boosts the car’s cooling capacity.
Not far from the steering wheel, close to the driver’s right hand, is the shift lever for the sequential gearbox: pull to upshift and push to change down one or two gears. There is no need to press on the clutch pedal which is only necessary for the start!