GilesGuthrie
Staff Emeritus
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This from Autosport.com...
McRae to split with Ford
Manufacturer refuses to join bidding war for Scot
Ford has decided it will not fight Citroen and Subaru to keep Colin McRae at its World Rally Championship team and will release the Scot at the end of the season.
The former world champion is believed to be seeking a sum of around £5million for next year alone. Ford has already stated that it cannot afford huge driver salaries and wants to push more funds into technical development.
A Ford spokesman told today's Guardian newspaper: "We have amicably agreed that we will not be renewing his contract." A full statement is expected later today.
Citroen is still the favourite to land McRae's services, and according to this week's AUTOSPORT magazine, a lack of budget at Subaru is making it increasingly unlikely that the 34-year-old will return to the make he won the world title with in 1995.
McRae met with Citroen boss Guy Frequelin yesterday and hopes to finalise a deal before the New Zealand Rally which starts on October 3.
McRae told the Guardian: "I was at Citroen this morning, but there's still no decision one way or the other. Hopefully it will be fairly soon. It is fairly well down the road.
"Obviously they would like me to join the team but there are lots of details to sort out. I cretainly haven't signed anything today."
Despite his wage demands, McRae told AUTOSPORT that a competitive drive for next year is his main concern. "The priority is to be with a team and car that can win the championship," he said.
McRae to split with Ford
Manufacturer refuses to join bidding war for Scot
Ford has decided it will not fight Citroen and Subaru to keep Colin McRae at its World Rally Championship team and will release the Scot at the end of the season.
The former world champion is believed to be seeking a sum of around £5million for next year alone. Ford has already stated that it cannot afford huge driver salaries and wants to push more funds into technical development.
A Ford spokesman told today's Guardian newspaper: "We have amicably agreed that we will not be renewing his contract." A full statement is expected later today.
Citroen is still the favourite to land McRae's services, and according to this week's AUTOSPORT magazine, a lack of budget at Subaru is making it increasingly unlikely that the 34-year-old will return to the make he won the world title with in 1995.
McRae met with Citroen boss Guy Frequelin yesterday and hopes to finalise a deal before the New Zealand Rally which starts on October 3.
McRae told the Guardian: "I was at Citroen this morning, but there's still no decision one way or the other. Hopefully it will be fairly soon. It is fairly well down the road.
"Obviously they would like me to join the team but there are lots of details to sort out. I cretainly haven't signed anything today."
Despite his wage demands, McRae told AUTOSPORT that a competitive drive for next year is his main concern. "The priority is to be with a team and car that can win the championship," he said.
