Peugeot feared by top teams

Many of Peugeot's rivals believe the new car could set the pattern for the next generation of rally cars.

Ford boss Malcolm Wilson, whose Ford Focus WRC has already broken new boundaries in the technology stakes this season, said, 'I know we're at the cutting edge of technology, but Peugeot produced a fantastically-engineered piece of equipment in the mid-'80s with the Group B 2 05T16 and I can't see any reason why it shouldn't do the same again. We've got to take them seriously.'

The French manufacturer's engineers and drivers are all hedging thier bets about the possible result this week.

Drivers Francois Delacour and Gilles Panizzi have tested the car extensively, but both warned that it is too soon to talk about winning.

However, the team's third driver, Marcus Gonhom, recently suggested that victory in Finland (where the 205Ti6 also clocked up its first success) is a real possibility.

Project engineer Michel Nandan believes that the squad is up to two months behind schedule after some time-consuming delays.

'We had engine problems at first and then Panizzi destroyed the test car in February,' he said. 'I would have liked to have two months more time before our debut event because we really haven't run enough kilometres. I'll be happpy if we are competitive.'

Peugeot's recent history has centred around the Formula 2 front-wheel drive 306 Maxi. Like Citroen's Xsara kit car, it has controversially outrun the WRCs in places like Catalunya and Corsica.

Indeed, Peugeot must face the possibility that its old car might actually be more competitive than the new one on this event, but as Wilson warns, ' If the 206WRC proves to be better than the Maxi, then we're all going to be in trouble.'