Peugeot UK announces Guy Wilks for 2011 IRC seat

One of the “hottest” seats in rallying has now been filled by double British Rally champion Guy Wilks who will join the Kronos supported Peugeot UK team for a full campaign in the 2011 IRC rally championship replacing fellow-Brit Kris Meeke who moves up to WRC in 2011.

After two successful years with Peugeot UK, Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle ended their final IRC Rally with the team on the podium of the RACMSA Rally of Scotland. Meeke and Nagle now take up their new challenge driving for Mini in the World Rally Championship (WRC) in 2011.

The 2011 IRC Challenge will be contested over twelve rounds starting with the legendary Monte Carlo Rally in January, which will be celebrating its 100th birthday, and finishing in November with the Rally of Cyprus.

[blockquote type=”blockquote_quotes” align=”right”]..the opportunity to drive the Peugeot 207 S2000 for Peugeot UK, with the support of a team like Kronos was too hard to resist.[/blockquote]

Guy started rallying when he was 19 and competed in the Junior World Rally Championship (JWRC) and was the British Rally Champion in 2007 and 2008. His first experience in the IRC was in 2009, which led to a drive with Skoda UK in 2010.

Guy Wilks said “We are very excited to be joining Peugeot UK for the 2011 IRC. It was a difficult decision to leave Skoda UK and I am indebted to them for their support in 2010. But the opportunity to drive the Peugeot 207 S2000 for Peugeot UK, with the support of a team like Kronos was too hard to resist. We’re highly motivated for 2011 and can’t wait for the Monte.”

Phil Pugh, Guy’s co-driver since 2003 will join him on the Peugeot UK team to maintain one of the best partnerships in rallying.

With the 100th Monte Carlo rally less than 12 weeks away it is full steam ahead now for Guy and Phil to start their preparations for the rally. Both Guy and Phil are no strangers to the IRC podium and with the backing of Peugeot UK this trend can only continue.

Jon Goodman (Managing Director Peugeot UK) said “I am delighted to have both Guy and Phil join the Peugeot UK team. We had a difficult year this year but I am sure that together with Kronos we can get back to our winning ways in 2011. Rallying is in the DNA of Peugeot and it is a great way to demonstrate that “Motion and Emotion” work together at Peugeot and rallying shows off the dynamic qualities of our cars and especially the 207. We know we have a winning car, and in Guy and Phil we can also have a winning team.”