Pug's Monte disaster: ‘We’re cursed!’ says boss

Last year, all three works 206 WRCs retired with engine problems at the start of day two, but the team went on to take the manufacturers' title and the drivers' championship with Finland's Marcus Gronholm.

Speaking to Autosport.com just minutes after hearing that rally leader Didier Auriol had been forced to pull out of the event after losing a wheel, Provera said: "It seems that the Monte Carlo Rally is cursed for us. In spite of the fact the cars were competitive and the drivers were on form, it's ended even earlier than last year.

"But if this is the price we have to pay to be World Champions again at the end of the year, then so be it," he shrugged. "Still, it is a pity that we haven't taken points from here."

Peugeot's three works entries for Gronholm, Gilles Panizzi and Didier Auriol were all out of the event with only three stages completed. Gronholm retired after SS2 with water pump failure; Panizzi crashed out on SS3, and Auriol was refused permission to start SS4 after ripping off a wheel at the end of SS3.

Provera expressed relief that tarmac expert Gilles Panizzi and his brother Herve were only bruised in their high-speed roll and also accepted the decision of the organisers not to allow Auriol to start SS4. The Frenchman had clipped a wall on the final corner of SS3, but limped to the start of the next timed test.

"I am not angry at the Auriol decision," he said. "What they did was completely within the rules. He was on three wheels and we fully expected the marshals to take the decision they did."

Peugeot's sole chance of saving face now rests on the Grifone-run privateer entry of Toni Gardemeister. The former SEAT works driver lies 11th overall after four stages, 2m42s adrift of rally leader Colin McRae's Ford.