Peugeot Sport to make ERC return in new junior category. Newcomer Pepe Lopez, 21, will contest the new ERC Junior U28 Championship – his prize for winning the 208 Rally Cup in France last year – while fellow Spaniard José Suarez, 26, will continue his partnership with the Peugeot Rally Academy for a second season, again entering the new ERC Junior U28 category. Both will drive the Peugeot 208T16. Programme of the Peugeot Rally Academy 2017 includes Azores Rallye, Rally Islas Canarias, Rally Rzeszow, Barum Rally, Rally di Roma Capitale and Rally Liepaja.
Bruno Famin, Peugeot Sport Director, said: “We are extremely pleased with our association with Eurosport and delighted to confirm that the Peugeot Rally Academy’s programme in 2017 will focus on the ERC. We will be running cars for two particularly promising young Spaniards, José Suarez and Pepe Lopez. Our aim will be to give them an opportunity to gain experience and fine-tune their professionalism without pressure as part a of a high-level operation. They will both drive Peugeot 208 T16s, which is the flagship of our rally car range, so it will be a good chance for us to showcase the reliability and competitiveness of the 2017-spec car.”
Fot. FIA ERC
