Quote:
Skoda is to cut back its World Rally Championship programme in 2004.
The Czech manufacturer will not register for the championship next year and will simply undertake a programme of 10 WRC events in Europe. The cost of contesting the full, expanded, 16-round championship is being blamed from the decision, which was revealed by Skoda Auto chairman Vratislav Kulhanek to Czech newspapers.
The decision not to register means that Skoda will not be allowed to homologate a new version of the Fabia WRC and will have to use the current evolution for any events it does contest.
Toni Gardemeister is expected to stay with the team, but this could well mean the end for Didier Auriol's Skoda career. Auriol is known to have wanted a serious development programme if he was to take up an option to stay.
The second car now looks likely to be shared between young Czechs Roman Kresta and Jan Kopecky and Finnish rising star Mikko Hirvonen.
( Bron: wrc.com )
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jammer... nog een jaartje erbij om de investering in de Fabia te rechtvaardigen én dan helemaal stoppen??