Peugeot plans Climb Dance 2

The return of Peugeot to the Pikes Peak hill climb also seems certain to be the trigger for a sequel to Climb Dance, the epic short movie of Ari Vatanen and Robby Unser’s success there in 1988 and 1989.

The movie is a natural spin-off from the announcement that nine-times world rally champion Sebastien Loeb will race at the famous Colorado hill climb in a specially developed 208 T16 in June.

Peugeot Automobiles’ Global Marketing and Communications Director Xavier Crespin told motoring.com.au the movie was not yet signed off, but that there was immense enthusiasm for it within Peugeot.

However, as the Red Bull energy drinks company is footing much of the bill for the assault, it is not only Peugeot’s decision.

“It is not 100 per cent on our responsibility, we are just having round table and trying to convince everybody,” he said. “I would love to see Ari Vatanen and Sebastien together.

“We are in the talking stage: ‘shall we do a Climb Dance 2?’ and that was the discussion we had some days ago with Sebastien Loeb. It is not yet yes, but we are pushing hard.”

Crespin said the movie would most likely follow the story of Vatanen and Peugeot at Pikes Peak when they first competed there unsuccessfully in a 205 T16 in 1987 through to the current day assault.

“That’s the idea, to say 205 didn’t make it at the time in 1987, let’s do it with 208 and that’s how came the idea and how we are saying ‘let’s do it again … and that is how we would like to tell the story’.

“But we have to be also fair that we want to win. That’s how we are finding partners to bring us the money so we can win. So this is now not only the decision of Peugeot but also Red Bull to decide.”

Crespin said the director of the award-winning original Climb Dance, Jean Louis Mourey, had been in almost daily contact since the return to Pikes Peak was announced, urging the sequel be done.

With its amazing in-car footage showing the super-fast course and the immense consequences of a mistake, Climb Dance came to be regarded as a motor racing movie classic. While it is most closely associated with 1988 winner Vatanen, it also includes footage of the 1989 winner Unser in action.

Dubbed the race to the clouds, the drivers tackle a 156-corner course that climbs nearly 1500m in less than 20km, with the chequered flag at an altitude of 4301 metres.

Peugeot is debating whether to take the record-setting 405 T16 GR back to Pikes Peak, but the expense of the exercise and the risk to an irreplaceable car means the decision is still being debated.

Crespin said it was unlikely Vatanen would get the chance to drive the 208 T16.

Built by Peugeot Sport, the new car is a 208 in name only. Based on a tube-frame structure, it has massive aerodynamic wings, carbon-fibre panels and Michelin racing rubber. No engine specs have been announced as yet.

The 405 T16 boasted at least 447 kW, was bedecked with large aerofoils and featured four-wheel drive and four-wheel steering.