Peugeot spat could drive Panizzi out.

The war of words between Peugeot works drivers Francois Delecour and Gilles Panizzi could result in the factory losing one of its tarmac specialist next season.

While the pair finished one-two for the second successive event in San Remo at the weekend, relations between them were soured by allegations of an illegal recce carried out by Panizzi in the days leading up to the event, and allowing him to run faster on the roads than his rivals.

The depth of ill-feeling could now be such that the younger Frenchman may leave the works team next season, perhaps joining the Italian satellite operation Grifone, which plans to run a pair of 206WRCs instead of its more usual Toyotas.

According to worldrallynews.com, Peugeot bosses are attempting to patch the rift between two of its stars, in an attempt to keep both on board for 2001. Team chief Corrado Provera insists that the problem between them was inflamed by press speculation during the Italian event, and could still be resolved amicably, despite Delecour having been asked to give up a potential victory in Corsica three weeks before the latest spat.

Neither driver has yet been offered a contract by the team, which has already signed championship contender Marcus Gronholm for 2001, and several potential replacements are understood to be waiting in the wings. It is likely, however, that one or both will appear in factory colours again next year.