World Rally News

FIA safety delegate, Jacek Bartos visited the North West of Ireland Tuesday to review the course and safety procedures for Rally Ireland 2006.

Skoda will not take part in the FIA World Rally Championship next season, according to reports on auto-motor-und-sport.de .

by Rob Wilkins The decision to axe Toni Gardemeister and Roman Kresta was by no means an easy one, according Ford team director, Malcolm Wilson.

Subaru have announced that Stephane Sarrazin will remain part of the team's driver line-up in 2006 - again linking up with number one driver, Petter Solberg and Aussie 'young gun', Chris Atkinson.

by Rob Wilkins Ford will use a new Focus in the 2006 FIA World Rally Championship and will also have a completely new driver line-up - in the shape of double world champion, Marcus Gronholm and fellow Finn, Mikko Hirvonen.

Richard Burns' family have announced that a public memorial service to commemorate his life and career will be held in London later this month. A private funeral meanwhile for family and invited friends will be held early next week.

by Rob Wilkins Ford team director, Malcolm Wilson has predicted that Citroen and Sebastien Loeb will still be their 'biggest threat' next year - despite the fact the Frenchman will contest the championship in an Xsara WRC run by privateer outfit, Kronos Racing.

Ford of Europe officially unveiled the all-new Ford Focus RS World Rally Car in its 2006 livery Thursday at the Bologna Motor Show.

Rally Australia winner, Francois Duval could be on the verge of signing up to drive a Red Bull backed Skoda Fabia WRC in 2006.

1995 world rally champion, Colin McRae has said that the world of rallying will be a poorer place following the death of Richard Burns Friday night. Speaking to Reuters , McRae added that the Englishman was a 'true character' and a 'fierce rival'.

Despite the Belgian driving a controlled final leg to secure his first World Rally Championship victory, Citroen boss Guy Frequelin has been unable to guarantee Francois Duval a place with the marque next season.

Colin McRae was left a frustrated bystander as time ticked down on his challenge for the Rally Australia podium, his Skoda having succumbed to a clutch problem with just three familiar stages to run.

Despite the disappointment of being crashed out of the lead of Rally Australia by the indigenous wildlife, Petter Solberg and co-driver Phil Mills were counting their blessings that the collision with an errant kangaroo had not had more serious consequences.

Colin McRae has admitted that, under normal circumstances, he would settle for handing Skoda a rare WRC podium finish from his current position but, with this year's Rally Australia being anything but 'normal', the temptation to push for just a little more may be too hard to resist.

SS18 - Flynns 2 (19.87.km): Chris Atkinson wins back-to-back stages for Subaru, gains another scalp by passing Kresta for sixth overall; Rovanpera takes a tenth from McRae in battle for second; Duval, fourth on stage, leads by 24.4secs; Teiskonen wins PCWRC on stage, but still trails Arai

SS17 - Beraking 2 (22.84.km): Chris Atkinson wins stage for Subaru, gains five seconds on leader Duval; McRae Gardemeister, Rovanpera fill top five; Duval wleads overall by 24.6ssecs, from McRae/Rovanpera battle; Arai leads PCWRC, as Teiskonen passes Higgins for second in class...

Petter Solberg was not the only driver to suffer the wrath of the Australian wildlife as the final round of the World Rally Championship entered the Bannister plantations, but Mitsubishi's Harri Rovanpera at least managed to stay in the event following his collision with a kangaroo.

Having started the event looking to give Peugeot a farewell victory, Marcus Gronholm was left disappointed after he followed team-mate Daniel Carlsson in retiring from Telstra Rally Australia on the opening morning of the event.

SS9 - Flynns 1 (19.87km): Chris Atkinson completes comeback with stage win, heading Subaru 1-2 from team-mate Solberg; Duval third from McRae, Galli and Rovanpera; world champion Loeb joins list of retirements following crash; McRae up to second overall, but Solberg leads by 45.9secs; see

SS6 - Murray North 2 (15.92km): Petter Solberg wins again, inherits leads after team-mate Atkinson hits trouble; Loeb, Gronholm, Kresta, McRae Gardemeister complete stage top six; Atkinson drops to sixth with 'steering problems', Solberg's overall advantage at 8.5secs over Loeb, Gronholm,

Rally Australia next weekend will not only bring the 2005 World Rally Championship season to a close, it will also mark the final event in WRC competition for the Peugeot World Rally team who withdraw from the series at the end of the season.

Peugeot has confirmed that Daniel Carlsson will return to the team for the final round of the World Rally Championship in Australia.

The 'old shape' Ford Focus RS World Rally Car ended its career as a works machine with a double points haul on the Rally Catalunya-Costa Daurada, but it was privateer Mikko Hirvonen who stole the thunder of the factory team as well as the final podium place.

Having crashed out of the 2005 edition of Rally Catalunya on SS3, Petter Solberg rejoined the event overnight, if only to gain an insight into the stages that could be used when the event switches to an earlier slot next season.