Peugeot boss says fightback starts here

The French equipe's 206 WRCs have won two events so far, with Didier Auriol and Harri Rovanpera taking a win apiece. But defending champion Marcus Gronholm has scored just four points and Rovanpera is the highest-placed driver in the standings, sitting fourth overall.

Speaking on the eve of the Rally of Finland, round 9 of the 14-event WRC, Provera said: "We're coming here with a lot of pressure. The results have not been as we'd expected so far, but maybe history can repeat itself?

"In the three rough events just gone, we've shown the car is a lot stronger than last year, so that's a positive thing. It's hard, but not impossible for us to get it all together for the rest of the season."

Provera is confident that the team's three-car Finnish attack is the perfect platform to begin the fightback.

"We have two Finns - Marcus and Harri - plus a Frenchman in Didier who has already won this event, so we are well placed to get a good result. I am confident that on Sunday afternoon, you won't be hearing excuses from me - you'll be hearing the sounds of victory."