AUSTRALIAN RALLY STAR Simon Evans is set to travel to France next week to complete a test in a Peugeot 207 Super 2000 rally car.

Evans, a three-time Australian Rally Champion, and his co-driver wife Sue, will complete the test as preparation for potentially mounting an assault on the Intercontinental Rally Challenge in 2010.

The Victorian-born driver said he was thrilled to be presented with the opportunity to test for one of world rally’s true powerhouse manufacturers.

“Peugeot is undoubtedly one of the biggest and most successful names in world rallying,” he said.

“To have a test with a French Peugeot team is a bit of a dream-come-true, but there is more to it than simply testing. We’ve won the Australian championship three times, so obviously I’d love to try a new challenge.”

However, while Evans is attracted by the challenge, he acknowledged the task in acquiring enough funding to compete may be difficult.

“The ultimate goal is to try and get to the IRC – however, we are still quite a way off in regards to the money we need to get there,” he said.

“If the test goes well, then hopefully it will help us to put a deal together to go back and run in the championship.”

While Evans was only given short notice of the opportunity to complete the test, he believes the lack of preparation won’t hamper his efforts.

“I have worked my whole career to get to a point where I have the mindset to perform in such a circumstance – I feel ready for something like this,” Evans said.

“It’s exciting, but I need to keep it all in check and make sure that I keep my head and do the job that I always do.”

The Intercontinental Rally Challenge is an FIA-sanctioned series featuring 11 events across three continents, including the much heralded Rally Sanremo, Monte Carlo Rally and Safari Rally, which were previously fixtures on the World Rally Championship calendar.