"Yesterday, the second day of the 2011 Monte Carlo Rally, kicked off in cold but snow free conditions, as Peugeot UK's Guy Wilks and Phil Pugh headed into the first of the day's stages. The first stage of the day was a long climb up to over 1200m and with this altitude, the ambient temperature at the end of the stage was a chilling, minus six.

Guy and Phil had a good run through the 21 kms stage but dropped 14.3s, putting them back to sixth overall.

"Unlike a standard Peugeot 207 the Peugeot UK 207 S2000 rally car can carry two spare wheels. These two new tyres were fitted to the car before the next stage to ensure the fastest possible time could be achieved. The next stage was dry and with the new front tyres Guy and Phil set the seventh fastest time, dropping just 9.6s. After the stage the cars returned to the Service Area in Valence to get ready for a rerun of the first two stages.

"As the cars headed back to the Service Area in Valence the weather started to change and the rumours of snow finally materialised. Suddenly, the dry tarmac of the stages was starting to turn white, as snow began to fall. Now the drivers and teams were faced with a difficult decision, deciding which tyres they should select for the rapidly changing conditions.

"As the cars left the Service Area for the rerun of the two stages the leader board was as follows: "By the time Guy and Phil arrived at the start of the afternoon's first stage the stage was completely covered in snow. Unfortunately, the weather information that had been available to them at the Service Area had indicated the snow was not too bad so they had chosen to fit winter tyres and not studded "snow" tyres.

"On reaching the stage it was clear that the choice of a studded tyre would have been the best choice. Now Guy and Phil were faced with their first drive of the Peugeot UK 207 S2000 on snow, but not on the best tyre option.

"Just over 15 minutes later they emerged from the stage only 24.8s off the fastest time, and in doing so setting the third fastest overall stage time. This was not, however, a true reflection of the fantastic drive of the new Peugeot UK duo as all the drivers who had been in front of them on the leader board struggled in the difficult conditions. Rally leader Juho Hanninen dropped 1m 54.2s, Petter Solberg 1m 49.0s, Freddy Loix 39.7s, Stephane Sarrazin 36.7s and Jan Kopecky 1m 14.6s.

"Suddenly the leader board of the rally had changed completely. The rally now had a new leader, Bryan Bouffier, who had jumped from seventh place, by setting the fastest overall stage time and now led Stephane Sarrazin by 3.1s, making it a Peugeot one-two. Guy and Phil moved up to fifth place just eight seconds behind the previous leader and IRC 2010 champion, Juho Hanninen who dropped to fourth.

"The snow continued to fall and it was now a case of a second run through a snow covered stage, for most of the crews, and not on ideal tyres. However, nobody could have predicted what was about to unfold.

"Ex WRC driver Francois Delecour driving a Peugeot 207 S2000 had been the only top-running driver to have opted to take studded tyres when the cars left the Valence Service Area and now the choice was perfect!

"Delecour set the fastest stage time and jumped up the leaderboard to finish the day in second place overall, behind new rally leader Bouffier in another Peugeot 207 S2000.

"Guy and Phil drove a brilliant final stage setting the fourth fastest time in ever worsening conditions, placing them fourth overall. As the Peugeot drivers leapt up the leader board, Juho Hanninen and Skoda team-mate Jan Kopecky tumbled down the order as they struggled in the difficult conditions, dropping 2m 46.2s and 7m 04.8s respectively.

"So as the second day finished yesterday it was a completely new leaderboard, and the stages of the Monte Carlo Rally had at last turned white.

"Today is the final day of the rally and Guy and Phil will contest a total of five stages before the end in the early hours of Saturday morning."