In only its first full year in the World Rally Championship with the 206 rally car, Peugeot Sport has won both the Manufacturers' Title and the Drivers' Championship.

Confirmation that the team had achieved the Manufacturers' crown came at the end of the penultimate round in the WRC calendar in Australia. Peugeot won the title in only its first season thanks to a score of six wins over all types of gruelling stages around the world.

The Drivers' championship was a fiercely contested race with Peugeot's Marcus Grönholm leading the field at the start of last weekend's Rally of Great Britain. Grönholm only had to finish within the top five to secure victory. After very tricky conditions in the Welsh forests, 32 year old Grönholm and navigator Timo Rautiainen finished second overall in the event, more than enough to secure the drivers' crown and back up Peugeot's own success in the Manufacturers' series.

Said Andrew Didlick, Peugeot's Director of Public Relations: "Peugeot Sports' declared objective at the beginning of the season was to win the Manufacturers' title. To win this and the Drivers' championship in the first full year is a fantastic achievement for the whole team."

The World Rally Championship does not take much of a break before its 2001 season. Peugeot Sport is already preparing a series of tests for the opening rounds of next year, which start with the Monte Carlo Rally in mid-January.

Pictures of Marcus Gronholm in action at the 2000 Network Q Rally of Great Britain by Mark Sims. More of his excellent photography is available here.