Peugeot vows to bounce back
Peugeot team principal Corrado Provera has vowed to bounce straight back from the disappointment of losing the WRC manufacturers' title for a fourth straight year - this time to sister company Citroen
Sebastien Loeb and Colin McRae ensured that Citroen scored its first world title in its first full season in the WRC when they finished second and fourth on the Wales Rally GB, and Provera was gracious in defeat.
"I'd like to congratulate Citroen who have beaten us because they were better, more consistent, and more reliable," said Provera. "The manufacturers' title remains not far away from us in France, which makes it easier to take back next year! As for the drivers' title, Marcus won it last year in a French car, and I'm sad that now it is leaving France. But I promise we will be back."
Peugeot went to Rally GB just five points behind Citroen in the makes standings, but was put on the back foot before the rally had even started when Richard Burns had to withdraw because of his mystery illness.
"We came into this rally with strong hopes of making up the five points we needed to become manufacturers champions," he continued. "But straight away our chances were damaged by Richard's illness, which meant that we lost one of our best drivers and the person who knew best the limits of this rally. Then Marcus went off on the third stage, and we realised that our chances of winning the title were lost."
Burns' replacement Freddy Loix scored the team's only points in his first rally for Peugeot. It will contest next season with an all-new rally car, based on the 307 Coupe, but Loix was more than happy to get one event under his belt in the 206 WRC as he says he will have more confidence on his next outing.
"This has been a really useful experience," said Loix. "Because it means that I can come to Peugeot next year with a good idea of how the team operates."
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