Petter Solberg will take part in the 2011 Monte Carlo Rally in a Peugeot 207 S2000, the French manufacturer has announced.
The Norwegian will be one of many familiar names representing Peugeot Sport at the rally's 100th anniversary event. Guy Wilks will be making his first appearance for Peugeot UK, having switched from Skoda UK to replace WRC-bound Kris Meeke. Peugeot Belgium and Peugeot Portugal will enter Thierry Neuville and Bruno Magalhaes respectively. Solberg will enter in the colours of Peugeot France, where he will be joined by Le Mans racer Stephane Sarrazin and French champion Bryan Bouffier.
Petter was excited to be given the opportunity to tackle the classic event. Speaking on his official website, he said: “I was very surprised when Olivier Quesnel, director of Citroën Racing and Peugeot Sport, contacted me and asked if I would be a guest-driver for the 2011 IRC Rallye Monte-Carlo in January – of course I had to accept!
“The manufacturer team will run the car, and they wanted to hire me for this event to secure a good result for the team. As for me, this means more competitive kilometres in a rally car and a new experience, as I have not entered an IRC event before. There is also live coverage of some of the stages, which will be exciting. This is a one-time arrangement, and I have no plans for a future in the IRC. My plan is still to be in the WRC, and fight for the championship in 2011.”
