Peugeot Considering Options

The French team have been deeply shocked by the loss of the 39-year-old Briton, who was partnering Estonian driver Markko Martin.

"We will now consider the remainder of the season. The championship is nothing compared to this," team boss and former driver Jean-Pierre Nicolas told Eurosport television.

There are four rounds of the world championship remaining - Japan, Corsica, Catalunya and Australia.

Peugeot withdrew Finland's Marcus Gronholm from the Rally of Britain immediately after Martin's car hit a tree in South Wales.

Their gesture would have handed the drivers' title to Citroen's Sebastien Loeb but the Frenchman deliberately incurred time penalties before the formal finish in Cardiff to ensure he did not win in such circumstances.

"This is a sport," said Loeb, who should now claim the championship in Japan next month. "I compete to win, but not like that.

"It's completely stupid. They should have stopped the rally there and then. Marcus didn't even pose the question, he stopped. For me, it was the same."

Loeb has 99 points with four rounds remaining, 34 clear of Norwegian Petter Solberg, Sunday's nominal winner in a Subaru. Gronholm is 38 behind the Frenchman.

Citroen lead Peugeot, their stablemates within the PSA group, by 20 points in the manufacturers' championship.