New Peugeot boss Jean-Pierre Nicolas has warned Marcus Gronholm that it is vital he doesn'tꦦ repeat his Swedish 'misadventures' in Mexico next weekend, as the team want to close the gap to Ford, who currently led the Constructors' championship by three points.

Aske🌱d about the Finn's start to year, Nicolas, who has replaced Corrado Provera, replied rather cryptically th๊at 'Marcus has been Marcus'.

"He has tw🧸ice challenged for outright vict🌠ory but his efforts have not been rewarded," he continued.

"Is that down to bad luck or excessive generosity? Whatever - now these joker cards have been played so soon, he and we know how important it wiꦓll be to ma🌱ke sure we score points from now on."

Markko Martin meanwhile got the thumbs up - especially after having taken his first podium for the team at the Sw🐼edish Rally.

"Markko has performed intelligently and has not attempꦍted to go beyond what he feels he is capable of achieving at this point in the season," added Nicolas.

"Even so, he has scored some valuable Manufacturers' points for the team and is himself second ไin the Drivers' championship, just one point behind the leader.

"Over and above this bead-counting ana🐠lysis, he has progressed too in terms of his understanding of the car. We already know in which direction we need to work so that, with the help of the engineers, he can drive in total confidence and, therefore, at the very top.

"He is a very⛎ surprising person. He comes across as shy, discreet, distant even, but he comes completely out of his reserve the instant he feels the need. He is very attentive in his relationship with the technicians who say they have re꧒ceived very good feedback from him.

"We 🌺chose him for his speed, but also for his skills on the technical side and he seems to be living ent﷽irely up to our expectations."