307 in Rallying
The Peugeot 307 WRC, a World Rally Car based on the 307 CC, replaced the multiple manufacturers' and drivers' championship-winning 206 WRC in the World Rally Championship for the 2004 season. The vehicle, nicknamed "The Flying Frog" and "The Whale", was plagued by transmission problems and only began to come into its element in competition towards the end of its factory-supported participation in the WRC. It has three WRC victories to its name, but saw its competition life cut short at the end of 2005 by PSA's decision to withdraw both Citroën and Peugeot from top-level rallying. It topped the podium in the series on the 2004 and 2005 Neste Rally Finland as well as in the 2005 Rally Japan. All the victories were at the hands of double world drivers' champion Marcus Grönholm. A private undertaking by seasoned Peugeot preparatory firm Bozian Racing, dubbed OMV Peugeot Norway World Rally Team, largely assumed responsibility for the running of WRC-spec 307s for the following 2006 season. Manfred Stohl and Henning Solberg were named as the driving personnel, with Stohl placing fourth in the overall drivers' standings.
The 307 WRC will be remembered for the accident that befell WRC competitors Markko Märtin and Michael Park on September 18, 2005, which resulted in co-driver Park's death. On stage 15 of Wales Rally GB, Märtin lost control of his 307 WRC and collided with a tree, killing Park instantly. This was the first fatality in a WRC event since 1993.
The Peugeot 307 has also been raced in the World Touring Car Championship, the British Touring Car Championship and TC2000 and the Danish Touring Car Championship.
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