Autosportfoto

The Peugeot RALLY Academy rings the changes

The Peugeot Rally Academy team has finalised the 2016 programme for its pair of 208 Rally Cup winners, José Antonio Suarez and Jordan Berfa. Next year's campaign will see both drivers competing on the world stage in WRC2 and WRC3 respectively, beginning at Rallye Monte-Carlo.

Leaving the opposition trailing in his wheel tracks in the 208 Rally Cup this year, José Antonio Suarez wrapped up the laurels before the Rallye du Var season finale - and the Spaniard's success has led to his appointment as an official driver for the Peugeot Rally Academy. Behind the wheel of a 208 T16, he will enter WRC2, the feeder series to the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). He will contest five rounds - Monte-Carlo, Portugal, Italy, Germany and France. Having already made his mark with an eye-catching debut in the 208 T16 on home turf in Spain, Suarez will be eager to maintain his burgeoning momentum in 2016.

The dominant driver in the ‘Junior' class of the 208 Rally Cup in 2015 - having narrowly missed out on clinching the crown the previous year - was 20-year-old Frenchman Jordan Berfa who will similarly defend the Peugeot Rally Academy's colours next season. He will continue to campaign the 208 R2 with which he achieved such outstanding results this year, as he takes on the WRC3 big guns at three rounds - Monte-Carlo, Germany and France.

Peugeot Sport Director Bruno Famin is excited to be able to announce the programme for the new Peugeot Rally Academy recruits: "For 2016, we were keen to focus even more closely on the development of young talents graduating from the 208 Rally Cup, by allowing them to progress directly to the world championship stage. José Antonio Suarez has already demonstrated his impressive raw speed, and I have no doubt that he will quickly get to grips with the 208 T16, which is one of the established WRC2 benchmarks on both gravel and asphalt. Jordan Berfa, meanwhile, will have at his disposal the potent 208 R2 - a car that he knows inside-out - as he bids to shine at international level!"

José Antonio Suarez

10/22/1990 - SPAIN
2009: 1st rally (Spain championship)
2010: 1st rally in WRC
2011: WRC Academy - 9th
2012: WRC Academy - 2nd (1 win)
2013: J WRC - 3rd (1 win)
2014: Drive Dmack Cup - 11th
2015: 208 Rally Cup - 1st (4 wins)

Jordan Berfa

03/31/1995 - FRANCE
2013: 1st rally (French championship)
2014: 208 Rally Cup - 6th (3rd junior)
2015: 208 Rally Cup - 3rd (1st junior)

2016 PEUGEOT RALLY ACADEMY Programme

January 21 - 24: Monte-Carlo - Suarez (208 T16 - WRC2); Berfa (208 R2 - WRC3)
May 20 - 22: Portugal - Suarez (208 T16 - WRC2)
June 10 - 12: Italy - Suarez (208 T16 - WRC2)
August 19 - 21: Germany - Suarez (208 T16 - WRC2); Berfa (208 R2 - WRC3)
September 30 - October 2: France - Suarez (208 T16 - WRC2); Berfa (208 R2 - WRC3)