Matt Marden’s tuned Peugeot 205 GTi
Like many of us, Matt Marsden used to be content pottering about in a body-kitted hatch. But around four-years ago, he got his first hit of drag racing and has been addicted to speed ever since.
A bit of recreational fun soon turned into an ambition to win Class A at Santa Pod’s Ultimate Street Car. Over 20k has seen Matt through three previous builds, including a trusty Mi16 conversion, but he’s finally happy (for now) with this heavily-fettled GTi-6 set-up you see in front of you.
There’s a catalogue of tuning goodies under the hood of this Laser green 205. Pretty much all the internals of the 2.0-litre lump have been played with, from the knife edged and balanced crank, to the high compression pistons and re-profiled cams. The hunt for any gain, no matter how big or small is vital as every little helps when you’re looking to knock off that elusive tenth of a second.
Pug1Off have managed to squeeze a very healthy 284bhp out of the GTi-6 at an equally impressive 9600rpm. In fact, on the rollers, Matt’s car hit an indicated 170mph – truly bonkers considering the car is naturally aspirated. The aim for 2012 is to increase the already high-revving limit to an insane 10,000rpm.
With the car ready to run, the date was set for Matt and Pug1Off’s annual trip to compete at USC. After a hard fought battle, Matt put down a winning time of 12.4-seconds at 111mph. In comparison, that’s over a second faster than an Aston Martin DB7 Vantage and Ferrari 360 Spider… in a N/A 2.0-litre Pug 205! Respect.
So after three engines, four years and over 20k worth of development, Matt has realised his dream. But he’s not ready to quit just yet. He has vowed to return to Santa Pod this year in search of more silverware and that ever-elusive perfect run.
TECH SPEC Peugeot 205 GTi
STYLING
205 auto bonnet; single wiper conversion; smoothed boot; colour coded arches.
CHASSIS
309 negative camber front wishbones; Bilstein shocks Eibach springs; Pug1Off 283mm front brake conversion; Pug1Off full length braided line kit with Tilton bias valve; hydraulic handbrake; Castrol SRF fluid; factory 205 1.9 wheels painted black; Toyo R888 tyres 190/55 R15.
TUNING
GTi-6 engine transplant from 306; bored out to 87mm; 88mm long stroke; knife edged & balanced crank; billet flywheel; Pug1Off race alloy bottom pulley; high compression forged pistons; forged H beam rods; race engine bearings; 16-row oil cooler; reworked lubrication system; Cometic steel head gasket; reworked & gas flowed cylinder head; 1 piece stainless valves; Cat cams double springs and retainers; solid lifter conversion; Cat Cams / Pug1Off custom profile camshafts; Kent Cams vernier pulleys; Jenvey 50mm throttle bodies with modified inlet; Emerald K3 ECU; 440cc injectors; Pug1Off custom exhaust manifold; OMP group A undercar system; polished rocker covers; Mocal catch tank; Baker group N engine mounts; factory 6-speed 306 gearbox; Pug1Off 4.8 custom final drive; Quaife LSD; Helix ceramic paddle clutch; Pug1Off short shift and up-rated selector rods.
INTERIOR
Stripped & repainted interior; Sparco Evo seats, harnesses, steering wheel; Safety Devices roll-cage; carbon door cards front & rear.
