Kronos Citroen's Xavier Pons has confirmed that he is unlikely to compete in the FIA World Rally Championship in 2007.

A statement on his personal website, www.xevipons.com, explained that he has been forced to abandon any hope of competing in the WRC next year due to the lack of any proposals that would let him continue to compete in the sport full-time - and to continue to progress.

"In spite of the good results in the last part of the season and having some proposals on the table, none of them offered me the minimum guarantees to face a 2007 season trying to fight for the podium places, as was my goal," he explained. "Nobody could offer us a good testing programme either. To accept any other agreement was to waste all the work made until now. It is very sad, but that's life."

Despite that decision though he hasn't given up hope completely and has vowed to stay in shape, should an opportunity arise later on in the year or for 2008: "I will continue with my fitness training as usual and hope to find a chance of coming back if any team so desires in the future," he added. "I want to thank all those who have helped me in the aim of becoming a World Rally driver, and especially all my family, who have supported me both in the good as well as in the bad moments. Thank you very much to everybody."

Pons finished the 2006 season seventh in the drivers' championship, having scored 32 points, including ending the year with a bit of a flourish in his Kronos-run Citroen Xsara WRC, with three fourth places in succession in Turkey, Australia and NZ and a fifth place finish in Wales. Talking to Crash.net Radio at the Wales Rally GB, prior to the start of the final round in the championship, it was clear that while he was pleased with his results during the second half of the year, he was worried about getting a drive for 2007.

"At the start of the season it was tough as the results did not come," he noted. "I was a little nervous because it was all new for me and not good. But afterwards it changed. A lot of the rallies [in the second half of the year] I like - and the stages are faster. I like these conditions more. For me I would have liked a podium [this year], but it is very difficult because there are a lot of drivers and they are fast. Sebastien has been a good team-mate - and sometimes I could ask what tyre is better and so on [and he could give me some advice].

"For the moment I don't know [what I will do in 2007 though]. Next year it is difficult because there are a lot of drivers and not a lot of teams. For me it is important to continue in the championship next year and at the moment I am a little nervous, because I have no team for 07."

Pons' fate may be an indication that Kronos won't have an involvement in the WRC next year as well, although that is pure speculation.