Peugeot 307 ready for Monte

A team spokesman confirmed the decision to wrc.com, thereby ending weeks of speculation about whether the car would be ready for the January event or not.

A Peugeot statement confirmed Marcus Grönholm and Freddy Loix as the full-time drivers next year, but said Loix may not be able to score manufacturer points on every round.

New FIA regulations allow teams the possibility of switching the crew of the second car, so Peugeot may consider using specialist drivers for certain events. In that case Loix will be entered in a third 307.

The 307, which has been tested to good effect by both Grönholm and Loix, replaces the ultra-successful 206, which won a hat-trick of manufacturers' world titles between 2000 and 2002. The 206 WRC was the benchmark machine, giving Grönholm two drivers' crowns as well.

"I was pushing the team to introduce the 307 as soon as possible," said Grönholm. "I have driven it and, although there's still some work to do, it is already faster than the 206."

Favoured Peugeot team Bozian Racing will run limited World Championship programmes for three young drivers in the 206. They are Frenchman Nicolas Vouilloz, Sweden's Daniel Carlsson and Portugal's Miguel Campos.

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Peugeot 307 ready for Monte

Peugeot has decided to debut its new 307 model on the Monte Carlo Rally next month. The French marque also says it may run a third car on certain events in 2004.