WRC news - Mitsubishi withdraws from 2006 championships

[FourWheelDrift]

So no factory teams except Subaru and Ford, unless Skoda stay in. AFAIK Citroen/Peugeot are pulling factory teams out (Loeb will be running a private Citreon next year).

What's going on?!

[TeamD]

Perhaps they've had enough of being fked about by the FIA?

I know I feel that way about the MSA.

[ahonen]

Skoda announced their withdrawal last week, so that leaves Ford and Subaru.

In some ways it's not such a bad thing, because a lot of top privateer teams exist out there - you just never see or hear about them in WRC coverage because of the nature of the TV coverage and the fact that all the factory cars filled the first 8-10 places.

We'll have Loeb (plus team mate) in private Citroens next year, which will be a challenge for him, plus the Red Bull Skodas, Kopeky Skoda, more private Fords, 307s etc. Having less works teams gives the privateers a very good chance of a podium and much better TV coverage for their sponsors.

Yes, I know I'm looking on the bright side, but a return to a more privateer focused WRC would make it a bit more like it used to be.

[FourWheelDrift]

Yes that will be good news for the rallying world but I worry about the commercial aspects of it, it's a big series, costs a lot of money (I'm sure) will the TV companies be interested in privateers, will the sponsors dry up too?

[ahonen]

It would be a real shame if the TV and sponsors started backing out, but you've got to have a reasonable amount of faith in David Richards to keep that side of things going - the commercial side of rallying is in a far better state that any motorsport outside of F1 and MotoGP.