Peugeot linked with return to Dakar Rally in 2015

Peugeot won the Dakar four consecutive times during 1987 and 1990 with its 405 T16, three times with Ari Vatanen and once with Juha Kankkunen, both men World Rally champions.

A Loeb link is understandable following the success of his record-breaking run at Pikes Peak in a Peugeot this summer.

Loeb has always stated that he would be interested in doing Dakar at some point.

One of the sticking points for Loeb would be the ongoing test and development programme which Citroen will run through the 2014/15 off-season preparation for its second campaign in the World Touring Car Championship.

There would not be a clash in terms of competition, however, with the WTCC not likely to start until well after Dakar's January date.

Peugeot Sport team principal Bruno Famin met with Peterhansel, an 11-time Dakar winner, to discuss a potential programme last month.

Famin said: "Pikes Peak was a one-shot programme. It was a very good success, all the Peugeot people were very happy, all the fans were very happy but now we have to think about the future.

"We have a lot of ideas, not only with the [208 T16 Pikes Peak].

"We have to see what's best to do in terms of communication, return on investment and what's really interesting.

"We have to think about that and prepare our plan for 2014 based on the level of budget we have, which is not yet fixed.

"When we have that information we will decide what to do. Maybe it could be something different to Pikes Peak and with a different car."