Kris Meeke will remain with Peugeot to defend his Intercontinental Rally Challenge crown next season.

Meeke, who will have to wait until Thursday to hear if his Rally of Scotland victory has been confirmed, rejected overtures from rivals Skoda and will continue with the Peugeot-Kronos team in 2010.

“There has been a bit of uncertainty over the last few months, but we've finally dotted the ‘i's and crossed the 't's with Peugeot,” he said.

“It is impossible for me to put into words how grateful I am to Peugeot UK and Kronos for the opportunities they have given me.”

Meeke took time to consider an attractive offer from Skoda who were runners-up to Peugeot in this year's IRC series and have an evolutionary version of their S2000 Fabia ready for 2010.

“Everyone talks about the other cars getting stronger and the Peugeot 207 getting older, but Peugeot Sport have given me their commitment to push the car to its maximum and I'm very happy to be staying with them,” said Meeke.

“It was good to get everything sorted out and we're already thinking about next year. Monte Carlo is just around the corner.”

In fact Meeke and co-driver Paul Nagle will see their programme of rallies in 2010 increased to 10 IRC rounds.

Meeke's Scottish win — the fifth of the year for the Dungannon driver — remains provisional following the decision of the scrutineers to remove part of the car's subframe for further investigation.

The part in question was weighed three times yesterday with each of the readings coming out differently. The process has now been halted and a new set of calibrated scales is being flown in to Scotland for the most precise reading possible on Thursday.

A spokesman from Peugeot UK said: “If the organisers of the event have any concerns over the car then they are right to investigate them fully, but we are completely confident that the car will be legal and if we disagree with the findings, then we will appeal.”

In is the second time this season cars from the Citroen-Peugeot group have come under question. World champion Sebastien Loeb was demoted from first place on Rally Australia when the anti-roll bar link on his C4 was found to be different from the official specification.

Whatever the Scottish decision it will have no effect on Meeke's IRC drivers' title.