Peugeot Launch: Wraps come off BTCC stunner

The French marque has never won a BTCC race, but Peugeot Sport boss Mick Linford believes this latest challenger is a certain race-winner.

"This year there is absolutely no question that we are going to win races," said Linford. "It's maybe a bit optimistic to talk about championships, but we're definitely going to be competitive.

"The competition is a complete unknown quantity this year. Nobody knows what everyone else is going to do. We're a bit behind schedule, but I'm confident we can make up the ground."

The car has been built to the new BTCC Touring class regulations, and will go head-to-head with Vauxhall's Astra Coupe next season. The Coventry marque has signed tin-top veteran Steve Soper, Independents Cup champion Matt Neal and National Saloon Championship star Dan Eaves to drive a trio of works-entered cars run by former title-winning team boss Vic Lee.

This season will be Peugeot's first assault on the BTCC after a two-year absence. It had previously spent eight years in the series with its 406 saloon, but despite a couple of appearances on the podium, the marque never made it onto the top step.

"I'm very pleased to be back in the BTCC," said Soper, "I wouldn't be here otherwise. I'm here to win races and I don't just want to make up the numbers. If we're uncompetitive then I don't want to do it."

They will be up against Vauxhall's works line up of Yvan Muller and Jason Plato, while youngster Tom Ferrier will pilot a third Triple Eight-run Astra.

The new 406 is not due to run until the second half of next month, but will undergo extensive testing before the first race of the season in April.