Peugeot has announced that Markko Martin will join double champion Marcus Gronholm in its team next year. The Estonian will make the move despite the fact that Peugeot will leave the World Rally Championship at the end of next year.
A deal between Peugeot and Martin has believed to be on the cards for some time - especially as Ford had yet to confirm its involvement in the WRC - but questions were raised over whether Martin would definitely move for a one-year deal when Peugeot announced it would pull out of rallying at the end of 2005 and Ford confirmed a four-year commitment to the sport. Martin has denied that the fact that his deal with Peugeot means he’ll be looking for another drive for 2006 worries him, however.
“Despite this agreement being limited to just one year, I’m very happy to be joining Peugeot Sport and I’m looking forward to having Marcus as a team-mate,” Martin said. “We get on well together and I have a great deal of respect for him. I believe he is still the fastest driver in the championship. My main objective will be to work closely with Marcus and the team to enhance the competitiveness of the Peugeot 307 and to play my part in securing the manufacturers’ and drivers’ titles.”
Peugeot is keen to make up for a disappointing 2004 season with the new 306 after a string of title successes in the early years of this decade. Gronholm said that his already strong relationship with Martin would help the team move forward to achieve their goals.
“Markko is a first-class recruit,” he said. “He’s shown that he’s very strong on all types of surface and that he’s very important for Peugeot’s bid to secure the manufacturers’ championship in 2005. I’m certain his arrival in the team will ensure a serene, cordial atmosphere.”
