Peugeot 309 spec - is it underpowered?

This car I've driven most in the game. It is slowest in its class but so nice to drive and really push. I own a slightly later model (with updated rear lights which are a tiny bit less ugly) so I was super happy to see it in game because it's quite a rare car. The road car has great handling IRL as well and it was considered one of the best handling hot hatches at the time when it came out because of the slightly longer wheelbase compared to the 205 which had a dangerously square layout.
If you're interested in it's history, I recommend this video on youtube. It was originally meant to be a Talbot and almost didn't go into production at all. Richard Burns drove the phase 2 later model, the one in the picture, which you can read about here.

The facelifted phase 2 was introduced summer 1989. It has a six speed from what you can see in this video here featuring Burns/Reid at the RAC rally in 1992 (some great moments in there, despite the awful quality). For example Richard quickly flicking on the wipers going through a puddlle, in between gear shifts. That's exactly what we do in game, right? Unless you have automatic wipers on lol... The pairing retired on stage 29 with a broken front hub. The class (A7) at that year's RAC featured all three cars from the H2 FWD class in game, as well as Vauxhall Astras, MG Maestro and a Saab 9000. 

From the onboard you can also read quite a lot into what the car behaves like. IMO it seems to have great stability and is steady just like in EA WRC but thanks to the shorter gears (and extra ~70 bhp) it's quite lively. I assume the brake bias was quite a bit rearward judging from the way the car rotates easily under brakes. Very little hard understeer. In the dark, it has a hood mounted light bar as opposed to the two bumper mounted lights for the version in the game. I imagine those were extra, because on Burns' car, the bumper lights are there as well. Dirty bumper lights wouldn't be enough to light the way either, I guess.

In the game, the 309 has 140hp and is slowest of the three. The Peugot 205 has 175hp and is more nimble, and Golf has 195hp, I think the Golf is inherently quite understeery tho so it's not so OP. I wish the 309 had a bit more grunt though. The Group A car that Burns drove allegedly had 210hp so it was quite a bit faster. They are not the same spec as in the game. 🙂
It does make me wonder, why is the 309 so underpowered? Mexico and other rougher rallies are difficult, especially going uphill and out of tight hairpins. Would you like to see it closer to it's rivals? EA guys, what do you think? It would be interesting to know the specs and rationale behind the car in the game, what was it mostly inspired by?