New cheaper S2000's planned for 2013

A second-generation of the current Super 2000 cars could be introduced in 2013.

Peugeot Sport's Bertrand Vallat said that both Peugeot and Skoda are in talks with the FIA about the introduction of a new version of S2000 cars, which will cut costs of the cars by half.

Peugeot and Skoda have already built S2000 cars, the 207 and Fabia, respectively. There have been S2000 cars built by many other manufacturers, which have been successful on the world stage, such as Ford's Fiesta S2000 and Fiat's Punto Abarth S2000. Toyota built two cars, the Auris and the Corolla, which have been very successful in South Africa, but have never really been rallied outside of SA. Proton are currently dominating the APRC with their works-entered Satria Neo's too.

This may sound like an impressive list, but at the recent Volkswagen Rally in South Africa, there were 18 S2000 cars in the entry list, but 9 were either works-entered or had a major backer. Skoda Motorsport is funded by Skoda themselves, and Peugeot UK and Peugeot France are funded by Peugeot's UK and French branches. Proton's cars are works run, too.

This shows that for privateers it is very difficult to get an S2000 drive, with either a vast personal wealth or a major sponsor needed to purchase, or even hire, one of these cars, with the cars costing upwards on €200,000 to buy.

If this new set of technical regulations for the S2000 cars, which will be powered by 1.6 turbo engines, similar to today's WRC cars, is ratified by the FIA, it could cut the costs of the S2000 cars to a more affordable €100,000.

“Skoda and Peugeot are talking with the FIA for a new car from 2013. It will be a standard car with a 1.6 turbo based on a future model. We are trying to cut the technical cost by half. It will be a big challenge to reduce this cost but we will be working hard with the FIA to achieve this. The category could be good." Vallat said to respected reporter Colin Clark.