NOVEMBER 4, 2004

Peugeot and Citroen to quit WRC

Although the Ford Motor Company has committed itself to the FIA World Rally Championship for the next four years, the Citroen and Peugeot teams have decided that they are not going to continue, at least as long as the WRC remains as expensive as is currently the case. The company have blamed their decision on tough conditions in the car markets.

"Due to tougher conditions in the car market, new opportunities in motor sports will be reviewed in 2005, with a

view to enabling the (PSA) Group to significantly cut its sports budgets," PSA Peugeot Citroen said in a statement. "Peugeot and Citroen will remain strongly committed to the World Rally Championship in 2005. However PSA Peugeot Citroen has decided that the marques will no longer take part in the WRC beyond that date."

Peugeot and Citroen have between them won five Manufacturers' titles and three Drivers' titles in the last five years.

The announcement will be just in time for the meeting of the FIA World Rally Commission tomorrow in Paris and will no doubt lead to much discussion when the top rally people get together with FIA President Max Mosley, who will chair the meeting as the president of the commission Shekhar Mehta is out of action with a hip injury.