Recently-crowned IRC drivers' champion Nicolas Vouilloz has said that it is 'an honour' for him to have clinched the 2008 title.

The Frenchman claimed the title by finishing second on the Rallye du Valais in Switzerland last week, and he added that winning it was one of the greatest achievements of his career to date.

The Rallye du Valais was the penultimate round of the IRC series, meaning that Vouilloz guaranteed his title with one rally to spare.

"It's a fantastic honour, and for sure it is one of the best achievements of my career," said the Peugeot Belgium driver. "To have done it against such strong opposition this year makes it all the better for us.

"We tried to be consistent and not make any mistakes, but it wasn't easy. All the time we had to stay focussed on the bigger picture and actually it took a lot of concentration.

"We could take nothing at all for granted. At the beginning of the season, it took a little while for us to put our deal together to compete, so to be here now as champion is amazing and it certainly makes all the hard work worthwhile."

Having won the manufacturers' title in Sanremo, the Peugeot Belgium team meanwhile has announced that it will not be going to China for the final round of the IRC from December 5-7.