Peugeot and Citroen to withdraw from the WRC

[skolm]

Peugeot and Citroen are to withdraw from the WRC after the 2005 season according to www.wrc.com.

Doesn't sound good.

Does this mean that theree only going to be two serious works teams for 2006 (Subaru and Ford)?

 

[Freddie]

Let's just hope that it won't kill the sport. Renault has however shown interest in the WRC, and Suzuki has ambitions of upgrading to WRC from JWRC. Let's hope they'll be in time to replace Peugeot and Citroën. Skoda and Mitsubishi will hopefully also be competitive by 2006.

 

[lewismrl]

Could never really understand PSA group entering both Marques. Alt least others will get a chance. Ford and Subaru will remain strong and hopefully the like of Skoda and Mitsubishi will raise thier game.

They are strong rumours of several other manufacturers eyeing up the WRC. Renault are rumoured to be developing a WRC engine and Audi are apparantly looking at a rally return following withdrawal from sportscars. Nissan also have been thinking about it for years but never made the jump.

If the likes of these come on board who will miss Pug and Citreon?

 

[skolm]

If Skoda and Mitsubishi are 100% committed in 2006 things should be okay.

Judging by the amount of effort Suzuki is putting into to their JWRC program and how succesful it's been it seems likely they will upgrade to WRC pretty soon.

However I don't think Renault will be joining the WRC as long as they are in Formula 1. To run both a Formula 1 team and a WRC team must cost huge amounts of money and take up huge resources. Personally I think that the WRC seems like a better match for the Renault brand though.

Does anyone know if there has been a manufacturer in top level rallying and in Formula 1 at the same time?

 

[lewismrl]

If Skoda and Mitsubishi are 100% committed in 2006 things should be okay.

Judging by the amount of effort Suzuki is putting into to their JWRC program and how succesful it's been it seems likely they will upgrade to WRC pretty soon.

However I don't think Renault will be joining the WRC as long as they are in Formula 1. To run both a Formula 1 team and a WRC team must cost huge amounts of money and take up huge resources. Personally I think that the WRC seems like a better match for the Renault brand though.

Does anyone know if there has been a manufacturer in top level rallying and in Formula 1 at the same time?

Other half of the Renault rumour was that they were going to quit F1 and switch to rally.

 

[Roo]

I thought Ford was in difficulties, which is why they released Duval and Martin from their contracts? Ford were in both F1 and rallying for the past few years, with Jaguar, and supplying Jordan and Minardi with engines.

If Skoda is rallying, would Audi return? They are both under the VAG group after all.

 

[TwinTurboJay]

I have heard rumours of Daimler adding the a version of the SRT-4 to the WRC, I believe they are in the testing stages, seeing if they can be competitice...that would be interesting to say the least

 

[lewismrl]

I thought Ford was in difficulties, which is why they released Duval and Martin from their contracts? Ford were in both F1 and rallying for the past few years, with Jaguar, and supplying Jordan and Minardi with engines.

If Skoda is rallying, would Audi return? They are both under the VAG group after all.

Ford have confirmed 4 year programme and are leading the way with cost cut proposals.

VAG had skoda and Seat in at the same time a few years back. Audi has a strong history in rally and they would get loads of publicity by returning. They would probably be the most significant name ever to make the return if they actually do it. Have to remember that their biggest rivals (Merc and BMW) are slashing the cash in F1 so would be pointles to take them on there, They have nothing left to prove in sportscar so where better to go next other the the WRC

 

[skolm]

Of course, how could I not recall that Ford has been in both F1 and WRC for the last couple of years , I even work for Ford.

SRT-4 in the WRC, that´s a new rumour to me, that would be really cool! It sounds plausible, Daimlerchrysler doesn´t have anything in the WRC and the Chrysler/dodge brand could really use some exposure in Europe.

 

[Wastegate]

It seems a shame that Citroen have done so much work on the new C4 WRC only to drop it before it gets a full season of running.

Manufacturers will always come and go from motorsport as and when it suits them, and a series like the WRC will always wax and wain depending on their involvement, and has done since it began.

The problem is that there is only one manufacturer who's committed to 2006 (Ford), although Subaru are likely. But with Skoda and Mitsubishi presumably waiting to see how competitive they are in 2005 before committing, the series could implode as manufacturers pull out because there is no-one to beat.

Personally I think it would be a shame, I think the new rules especially if tyre widths and diameters were decreased could be the basis of a great series.

 

[ND4SPD]

Wow, what a shame, I believe this is a very bad mistake by these two manufacturers. What will happen to the drivers driving them?

 

[lewismrl]

Wow, what a shame, I believe this is a very bad mistake by these two manufacturers. What will happen to the drivers driving them?

It will make for stronger top line teams due to more drivers being on the market.

Just look at this year! Which team could honestly say they had a to driver line up. Citreon really had the best with Loeb and Sainz follwed by Ford with Martin and an improving Duval

 

[Evo7GTA]

I read about Renault suposedly coming in. Also 2006 is when Hyndai is coming back in the WRC with a new car.

 

[LOonIE]

the wrc gets expansive and more expansive and even more expansive from season to season. now the officials get the bill.

 

[LOonIE]

.

If the likes of these come on board who will miss Pug?

me

 

[Ikari]

I have heard rumours of Daimler adding the a version of the SRT-4 to the WRC, I believe they are in the testing stages, seeing if they can be competitice...that would be interesting to say the least

If Daimler enters WRC with a prepped version of the SRT-4, that would not only be badass, but might help add some momentum to having a future WRC rally in the US.