Helary to do first Peugeot tests

The 39-year-old Frenchman, who in 1993 scored the second of Peugeot's Le Mans victories with the 905 Group C car, is believed to be the first driver to agree terms with the French manufacturer for its return to sports cars.

Helary, who has had a Peugeot contract for the past five years, said there was a "99 per cent" chance that he will go on to be part of the Peugeot driver line-up at Le Mans in 2007.

"They have said that I will do all the first tests when the car is ready," said Helary, who has raced touring cars for Peugeot, predominantly in France, since 2001.

"The car will be ready at the end of December, or at the very latest, at the beginning of January.

"Winning Le Mans with Peugeot is a strong memory for me, although I didn't appreciate what I had achieved at the time. I thought it must be easy because I had won it at my first attempt. It is good to have another chance."

Peugeot is understood to be planning to run three cars as it did in the 1991 to 1993. That means a total of nine drivers, which, as in the early 1990s, will include a mix of nationalities.

Those in the frame range from French sportscar drivers Emmanuel Collard and Nicolas Minassian, through to former Le Mans winner Guy Smith and McLaren Formula One test driver Pedro de la Rosa.