The Peugeot works team debuted in the Silk Way in 2016, when it ran from Moscow to Beijing, with a three-car line-up.

Peterhansel, now a 13-time Dakar champion, exited from contention early in that race, rolling during the fifth stage, leaving Despres and Loeb to battle it out for victory.

Eventually, Despres prevailed, securing his first rally-raid win in cars as Loeb was penalised for missing two waypoints.

For the 2017 race, which will likewise kick off in Moscow but finish in Xi'an instead of Beijing, Peugeot will be returning with the same drivers, who earlier this year wrapped up a Dakar Rally 1-2-3 for the French marque.

"The 2017 Silk Way Rally will provide Peugeot Sport with another opportunity to showcase its competitiveness in the world of cross-country rallying," said team boss Bruno Famin.

"Team Peugeot Total is targeting another win on this event which has forged a reputation for being long and gruelling and this year’s rally is likely to be no exception.

"The terrain it covers, its slot in the calendar and its format make it an exciting challenge for Peugeot Sport, while Russia and China are both very important markets for Peugeot."

Carlos Sainz, the other driver in Peugeot's Dakar line-up, will once again miss the event that he won in 2009 and 2010 with a Volkswagen Touareg.