Wilks says 2011 biggest season yet

The 29-year-old double British Rally champion admitted the decision to move on from Skoda UK was one of the hardest he has had to make.

But his desire to capture next season's IRC title was the driving force behind the switch.

"I'm 29 years old now and I'll be 30 when the Monte Carlo Rally has finished in January," Wilks told AUTOSPORT.

"Guy Wilks needs to produce next season or how much longer do I continue to go rallying? I am thinking seriously about what's best for me next year and I have to be in the best possible position at the end of next year.

"I need to get the consistency back and, straight talking, I need to win the championship. Whatever might or might not come after that, well that's something else, but right now I need to be in the best possible place next year, to give myself the best chance to be right there at the end of next year. And Peugeot has offered me that opportunity."

Wilks contested eight rounds of the IRC with Skoda UK Motorsport this year and that number is expected to rise to at least 11 with Peugeot UK next season.

No date has been set for the Darlington driver to take the wheel of the 207 S2000 he will drive next year for the first time, but he is expected to make the trip to Paris to meet Peugeot Sport officials and to Belgium to meet the Kronos Racing team which will run the car before the end of the month.