The biggest changes to the face of the World Rally Championship
for 2006, are the hiatus of Constructors' Champions Citröen and the
departure of ex-champions Peugeot.
Subaru's and Ford's 2006 machines will be based on their latest
Impreza and Focus respectively, while Mitsubishi, Skoda will also
be participating. World Champion Sebestian Loeb will be contesting
in a privately-entered Citröen Xsara WRCar as he awaits the team's
return in 2007 with the C4 WRCar.
Peugeot's Marcus Grönholm has secured a seat with the Ford team,
alongside ex-Subaru pilot Mikko Hirvonen who was added to the
line-up last week. Subaru will retain the 2003 champion Petter
Solberg and Chris Atkinson. Loeb will be joined by Xavier Pons and
possibly François Duval or Manfred Stohl.
Mitsubishi and Skoda have yet to confirm their driver line-ups, but
with talents such as Toni Gardemeister and Roman Kresta out of a
drive, and young upstarts, privateers and 1995 champion Colin McRae
looking for seats, the competition will certainly be intense.
