Panizzi looking for full season

Panizzi excelled on the rough gravel of the Turkish Rally earlier this month, setting some fast stage times on the way to fifth overall in a factory-spec car run by Bozian Racing.

"After Monte Carlo lots of people were looking at us," Panizzi said of his performance on the season opening rally, where he was withdrawn for health reasons. "But I proved [on the Rally of Turkey] that people can count on me.

"I consider myself as a driver that is competing in the whole championship even though I am only entering nine rallies. My objective is to compete in the whole championship in future years."

Panizzi's desire for a full season adds extra pressure to Peugeot, which has some tough decisions to make about its driver line-up for next season. Along with the Frenchman, both Richard Burns and Harri Rovanpera's contracts expire at the end of the season. Subaru boss David Lapworth has said that he would consider re-hiring Burns should Tommi Makinen retire, whilst Rovanpera has already expressed his desire for a full 14-round season.

Young hotshots Cedric Robert and Juuso Pykalisto have both impressed in outings for Peugeot, and could be in line for full drivers with the works team in the near future.