Peugeot to return in 2007

The announcement from Peugeot comes just months after the PSA Group, the mother company of both Peugeot and Citroen, announced that both marques would leave the World Rally Championship and marks the company's first return to Le Mans since leaving the Pescarolo team in 2003.

It was widely reported that Peugeot would return to Le Mans while Citroen are thought to be considering returning to the WRC in 2007 or entering the Rally Raid World Cup and in particular the Dakar Rally by 2007.

Peugeot, who previously won Le Mans as a works team in 1993 with a clean sweep of the podium with their 905B, will conduct feasibility studies during the first half of next year before development and construction begins with the aim of having the first car on track by December 2006.

The car, which will be fitted with a diesel-powered car equipped with a diesel particulate filter system, will then race competitively in the Le Mans Endurance Series, taking in rounds in Spa, Monza, Silverstone, Nürburgring and Istanbul, whilst also entering Le Mans.

"This is an extremely stimulating new challenge and I am convinced it will generate considerable interest throughout our staff and across our sales networks," said Frederic Saint-Geours, managing director of Automobiles Peugeot.