Peugeot UK IRC chance for ace Wilks

Guy Wilks will replace Kris Meeke in Peugeot UK’s Intercontinental Rally Challenge attack next season.

Wilks, 29, is currently sixth in the IRC standings after claiming three podium finishes for Skoda UK Motorsport.

He will switch to the Kronos Racing-run squad in time for the centenary edition of Rallye Monte-Carlo, the opening round of next year’s IRC series in January. Phil Pugh will continue to co-drive Wilks, who claimed his maiden IRC win on Rally of Scotland in November 2009.

Wilks, a two-time British rally champion, will contest a full programme of IRC events in 2011 in a Peugeot 207 S2000. He 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.”

Meeke, who won the IRC title for Peugeot UK in 2009, is moving to the World Rally Championship for 2011. Skoda UK Motorsport will announce a replacement for Wilks in the near future after confirming it will contest 11 rounds of next year’s series.