The Peugeot Belgium-Luxemburg operation has decided to forego the Intercontinental Rally Challenge's final round of the season, November's Rally of Scotland, thereby putting an end to the battle for third place between its drivers Nicolas Vouilloz and Freddy Loix.

"In 2008, our crews recorded an IRC challenge one-two," said Marc Van Dalen, Sporting Director of Kronos Racing, which prepares the two Peugeot Belux 207 S2000s. "This year, they were just as competitive: the team played a major part in Peugeot's conquest of the IRC manufacturers' title.

"But Freddy Loix and Nicolas Vouilloz presently hold third and fourth places in the drivers' standings with no possibility of improving their rankings on the final round," he explained.

Having looked at the arithmetic, Peugeot Belux opted against making the trip to Scotland, where the only possible result would have been a switch in its driver positions with little else to gain in regards to the championship.

"This year circumstances did not play in our drivers' favour," said Stephane le Guevel, General Director of Peugeot Belgium-Luxemburg, as he compared last year's results – when Vouilloz took the IRC title – to the 2009 championship's. "Even if everything was reunited for a similar result this season, they did not achieve it; that's racing!

"In regards to the manufacturers' title, we can say 'mission accomplished': Peugeot took its third consecutive IRC crown and our team had a big part in that," le Guevel elaborated.

"Although we regret not offering Nicolas and Freddy a final opportunity to add a 2009 IRC round to their victory list, we thank them for the work they accomplished with rigour and passion. Those two words define the image of the Peugeot Belgium-Luxemburg Team."

Despite the absence of Peugeot Belux machinery at the season's closing round, Kronos Racing will nonetheless be present in Scotland between 19-21 November, with the Marc Van Dalen-led outfit working on the Peugeot UK car of 2009 IRC Champion Kris Meeke in addition to the BFGoodrich Drivers Team entry.