Citroen and Peugeot plan WRC pullout

The World Rally Championship has been dealt a blow with news of plans for Citroen and Peugeot - the team of Marcus Gronholm - to withdraw after next season.

The World Rally Championship has been dealt a blow with news of plans for Citroen and Peugeot to withdraw after next season.

The series was looking strong after Ford committed for another four years this week but the unexpected announcement today will see two of the sport’s most successful teams of recent seasons leave.

Citroen won both drivers’ and manufacturers’ championships this year while Peugeot and Marcus Gronholm showed signs of a return to their title winning form at times with their new car.

But parent company PSA Peugeot Citroen today announced the difficult conditions in the car market had prompted their withdrawal.

A statement read: “In five consecutive years of competition in the World Rally Championship, Peugeot and Citroen have won five manufacturers titles and three drivers titles.

“These results reflect the diligent, passionate determination of each marque, backed by a substantial financial commitment to motor sports competition.

“Due to tougher conditions in the car market, new opportunities in motorsports will be reviewed in 2005, with a view to enabling the group to significantly cut its sports budgets.

“Peugeot and Citroen will remain strongly committed to the World Rally Championship in 2005.

“However, PSA Peugeot Citroen have decided that the marques will no longer take part in the WRC beyond that date.

The pair’s withdrawal will leave the WRC with four manufacturer entries in Subaru, Ford, Mitsubishi and Skoda while Suzuki have plans to enter soon.

The news will boost Ford’s hunt for new drivers for next season.

Both Markko Martin and Francois Duval were not retained due to uncertainty over the team’s rallying future.

The pair were expected to join Peugeot and Citroen respectively but with those teams only competing for another season, Ford may yet retain their promising line-up.

Today’s announcement leaves the future of current world champion Sebastien Loeb and two-time title winner Gronholm in doubt though.

Both drivers have enjoyed success in recent years so should not find it particularly difficult to find new drives for 2006 onwards.