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Peugeot has confirmed that it will start the 2004 World Rally Championship season with the new 307 model.
A team spokesman told wrc.com that the decision had been made to take the new 307 model to Monte Carlo, thereby ending weeks of speculation about whether the car was ready for the January event or not. Marcus Gronholm and Freddy Loix will each use the new coupe-based machine in anger for the first time.
The 307, which has been tested to good effect by both Gronholm and Loix, replaces the ultra-successful 206. With a hat-trick of manufacturers' world titles between 2000 and 2002, the 206 WRC was the benchmark machine, giving Gronholm two drivers' crowns as well.
"I was pushing the team to introduce the 307 as soon as possible," Gronholm said. "I have driven it and, although there's still some work to do, it is already faster than the 206."
Asked for a prediction about how the 307 might fare on its debut, Gronholm offered a typically realistic viewpoint.
" We will have to see," he said. "The Monte Carlo is not one of my favourite events because of the unpredictability, even though I led last year. It is a difficult rally and in a brand new car, who knows..."
A team spokesman told wrc.com that the decision had been made to take the new 307 model to Monte Carlo, thereby ending weeks of speculation about whether the car was ready for the January event or not. Marcus Gronholm and Freddy Loix will each use the new coupe-based machine in anger for the first time.
The 307, which has been tested to good effect by both Gronholm and Loix, replaces the ultra-successful 206. With a hat-trick of manufacturers' world titles between 2000 and 2002, the 206 WRC was the benchmark machine, giving Gronholm two drivers' crowns as well.
"I was pushing the team to introduce the 307 as soon as possible," Gronholm said. "I have driven it and, although there's still some work to do, it is already faster than the 206."
Asked for a prediction about how the 307 might fare on its debut, Gronholm offered a typically realistic viewpoint.
" We will have to see," he said. "The Monte Carlo is not one of my favourite events because of the unpredictability, even though I led last year. It is a difficult rally and in a brand new car, who knows..."
.. but Im for whatever works.
