Evans tests Peugeot IRC rally car

Three times Australian rally champion Simon Evans will test a Peugeot 207 Super 2000 rally car next week in France in the hope that it may lead to opportunities to drive in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC), the rival series to the World Rally Championship.

Peugeot has won the last three consecutive IRC drivers' and manufacturers' championships with its Super 2000 (S2000) cars.

The 2009 IRC comprised 11 rounds across three contrinents and events on its calendar include the Monte Carlo Rally, the Safari Rally in Kenya and Rally Sanremo.

The test has been arranged to introduce Evans and his co-driver wife Sue to a French IRC team, with a view to the possibility of the duo competing in at least part of the 2010 IRC series for Peugeot.

Evans has won three out of the last four Australian Rally Championships, yet has never had a real opportunity to sample a big international rally series.

The test on 2nd December near Clermont-Ferrand in central France will give the Victorian that taste.

"To have a test with a French Peugeot team is a bit of a dream-come-true, but there is more to it than simply testing," Evans said. "I'd love to try a new challenge."

Evans said that money will be his big hurdle.

"If the test goes well, then hopefully it will help us to put a deal together to go back and run in the championship.

"I will be pointing out to the team that when Australians drive for Peugeot, they often win," Evans said, referring to the success of Geoff and David Brabham for the marque at Le Mans.