Corrado Provera, Peugeot’s long-time head of motorsport during the brand’s successful years in the WRC, has died at the age of 82
Corrado Provera is dead. The Italian, long-time head of motorsport at Peugeot and closely associated with the French manufacturer’s successes in the World Rally Championship (WRC) at the turn of the millennium, was 82 years old
“It is with great sadness that we have learned of the death of Corrado Provera,” reads a statement from Peugeot Sport. “His years at the helm of Peugeot Sport were characterized by his charisma and energy. We extend our sincere condolences to his family and all those who knew him.”
FIA President Mohammed bin Sulayem: “We are deeply saddened by the death of the former head of the Peugeot World Rally Championship program, Corrado Provera. On behalf of the FIA, we extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends.
Provera began his career as a journalist before working for a time in public relations. In the 1990s, he took over the management of Peugeot Sport and led the French manufacturer back into the World Rally Championship, where Peugeot was able to build on the successes of the Group B era.
Between 1999 and 2003, drivers won 24 WRC rounds with the Peugeot 206 WRC. From 2000 to 2002, Peugeot became manufacturers’ world champion three times in a row, with Marcus Grönholm also winning the drivers’ title in 2000 and 2002.
The successor model, the Peugeot 307 WRC, introduced in 2004, was less successful and only won three WRC rounds. After the 2005 Rally Sweden, Provera stepped down and handed over the management of Peugeot Sport to Jean-Pierre Nicolas, before the French withdrew from the WRC at the end of 2005.
While Provera enjoyed success in the WRC, he played a key role in Peugeot’s less successful Formula 1 engine program from 1994 onwards. The company initially supplied engines to McLaren, then switched to Jordan and later to the Prost team, before Peugeot discontinued the program after 115 Grands Prix in favour of a works program in the WRC.
