Marsh, Peugeot set to return.

Peugeot is set to have a presence in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship for the first time since 2004 after Richard Marsh announced plans to compete in a Peugeot 307 this season.

Marsh, who raced a 307 for part of the 2004 season with John Batchelor's Team Varta outfit, will return to the series after a year away with the car being run by Team Griffin Racing - becoming the latest team and driver to be won over by the package put together by series director Alan Gow.

"The 307 wasn't developed to its full potential and I've got the engineer's plans to show what else could have been done to improve it," Marsh told btcc.net. "I certainly expect to be in the mid-field.

"I had been looking to do another championship, but it became clear for the same money it would be possible to enter the BTCC - the pinnacle really - and run at a decent level. The BTCC has got everything going for it and the live television on ITV1 is very attractive to sponsors looking for exposure. The BTCC is the place to be."

Team Griffin makes the step up to the BTCC having run a 307 during 2005 in the Britcar series, and has past experience of the TOCA paddock from its time in the Renault Clio Cup. The 307 the team will run is one of the original BTCC-spec machines raced in 2003 and 2004 by VLR and Team Varta and team boss Julian Griffin said he was thrilled to make the step up.

"I'm delighted - my team has always prepared a good car and I've wanted to be in the BTCC for some time," he said. "Now, thanks to Richard, the deal has finally happened. It's a big step up, but I think we can do a respectable job in our first season.

"It's fair to say the 307 had its problems but we know we can get around that with some design work. Running in Britcar enabled us to understand a bit about the 307. Realistically, I think we can be mid-pack. Yes, this is a learning year, but I hope we can establish a strong BTCC team that will stay about."