New look Peugeot targets Monte Carlo win

"We start the season with one of the more difficult goals for us, which is Monte Carlo," said the Italian. "Although we are very happy with our success in the championship over the past three years, we have never won the Monte Carlo Rally, and that is not a situation we are happy with.

"We will be doing our best to break that tendency this year. And I am sure that with the efforts of our drivers and our new partners Marlboro we will be in a strong position to achieve even greater success."

Reigning world champion Marcus Gronholm and the previous title holder Richard Burns will form the backbone of the team's driver line up as it guns for a third straight manufacturers' crown, but 'third' drivers Harri Rovanpera and Gilles Panizzi could be given the chance to challenge for the drivers' championship, too.

Both have initially been handed nine rounds each - tarmac ace Panizzi will tackle the asphalt events plus the gravel rounds in Turkey, Cyprus, the Acropolis and Rally GB. Rovanpera will compete in the gravel rounds only, but Provera confirmed that either could be handed a works car on extra rounds should they be in with a chance of the title.

"Part of me is a little upset not to be doing all of the rallies," admitted Panizzi. "But the situation I have now, where I will be doing nine events all in the factory car is much better than I had last year. I don't want to be there just to make up the numbers. It is important for me to have in a car that is capable of winning on every rally. And certainly if I have the same car as Marcus and Richard on gravel that will definitely be the case."