Peugeot out to build on its momentum.

In addition to being a reasonably rare feat in world class rallying, Peugeot's monopoly of the podium in Corsica was a dream come true for the French manufacturer.

Today, less than a fortnight after its exploit on home soil, the French outfit is looking to build on its excellent start to the season on the Catalonia Rally, another all-asphalt event that saw the 206 WRC finish first and second twelve months ago.

After their performance in Corsica, winner Gilles Panizzi, second-placed Marcus Gr?nholm and third man Richard Burns are again extremely fired up in their bid to fight off what promises to be some very stiff opposition.

The pace of the World Rally Championship is uncompromising... in all senses of the term! The forthcoming Catalonia Rally, the fourth round of the 2002 calendar, begins just eleven days after the finish of the Tour of Corsica which means that drivers and teams had little time to get over their emotions in Ajaccio before launching into recce for the Spanish event.

Thanks to its 1-2-3 result in Corsica, which came after a 1-2 finish in Sweden, Peugeot has consolidated its advantage at the top of the Manufacturers' championship with a 16-point lead over its closest chaser. Meanwhile, the Drivers' table is topped by Marcus Gr?nholm, winner in Sweden and one of just two drivers to have collected points in all three rounds of the 2002 championship so far. Runner-up spot in Corsica has extended the Finn's lead to 8 points over Gilles Panizzi and Tommi M?kinen, while Richard Burns figures in fifth position, eleven points behind his Finnish team-mate. However, both championships have only just begun...

"Our result in Corsica was the fruit of a long list of parameters all gelling together successfully," explains Jean-Pierre Nicolas, manager of Peugeot Sport's rallies division. "On the technical front to begin with, the work accomplished by everyone in the team has enabled the 206 to reach an extremely high standard of performance and reliability. Then there's our driver line-up. On asphalt as well as on the loose, we can count on the services of three drivers capable of either winning or mixing it with the frontrunners on any event. Last but not least, the tyres developed by Michelin have incontestably played a role in our performance and are part of the whole package, even though we are not the only team to benefit from the French firm's expertise."

Peugeot has fond memories of the 2001 Catalonia Rally, the first clear asphalt round of last year's championship. Thanks to the first and second places of Didier Auriol and Gilles Panizzi, Peugeot harvested a maximum points haul on the Spanish round and this year's event offers the team a first class opportunity to consolidate its position after its promising start to the season.

Even so, there is no chance of euphoria creeping in: "We go to Spain optimistic yet cautious, an approach from which I haven't budged in the past four years," insists Jean-Pierre Nicolas. "We know our rivals have also continued to work hard and the competition we face in Catalonia promises to be particularly stiff."

Gilles Panizzi sees the coming weekend as an opportunity to add the Spanish trophy to his silverware cabinet. "I narrowly missed out last year when I finished second overall behind Didier. I think we have a good chance of doing well this year. Technically, the recent work we have done with the 206 has born fruit. My car was fantastic in Corsica. It was superbly balanced and I felt incredibly comfortable with it. I had the impression I could have attacked even harder still. I probably face an even tougher fight in Spain where I can expect pressure not only from rival manufacturers but also from my own team-mates who are becoming increasingly competitive on asphalt. But I feel confident and as determined as ever."

Marcus Gr?nholm's visit to Spain last year ended in retirement. So far this year, however, he has been in sparkling form, as illustrated by his win in Sweden and his brilliant runs on the Monte Carlo Rally and then in Corsica. "My 206 was excellent throughout the Tour of Corsica. I was able to attack hard and consolidate my position at the top of the Drivers' championship. Everything's looking very positive, but the season has only just begun."

Corsica saw Richard Burns claim his first podium finish in Peugeot colours. "I am pleased with my result and with my two fastest stage times, although I would of course have preferred to finish second ahead of Marcus. We are making good progress. Catalonia is my favourite asphalt rally and I have already finished second there in 2000. The roads are wider than in Corsica and that suits me better. It promises to be particularly close with some very strong opposition on this type of surface. My objective will be to finish in the points, as close as possible to Gilles."