World Rally News

By Rob Wilkins. Britain's Guy Wilks has conceded that the exit of Peugeot and Citroen is a 'big blow' for the sport, especially for those drivers' in the Junior WRC, as it makes the task of graduating to the top level even more tougher.

Citroen boss, Guy Frequelin has admitted that it was a mistake to sign Francois Duval.

The WRC travels from Cyprus to Turkey next weekend and as the sport's tour of the Mediterranean's hotspots continues, Marcus Gronholm's rally engineer Francois-Xavier Demaison explains how Peugeot combat the effects of the searing heat, which crews invariably encountered during these events and w

Citroen boss, Guy Frequelin has indicated that the French manufacturers' decision to quit the FIA World Rally Championship might only be temporary and that they could conceivably return as early as 2007.

Britain's leading female rally driver, Natalie Barratt, suffered a frightening end to her participation in the Cyprus Rally Sunday.

Upcoming WRC star, Chris Atkinson reckons that he made some 'useful steps ahead' on the Cyprus Rally over the weekend, despite the fact a clutch problem on day one, left him languishing down the field.

Citroen's Sebastien Loeb has established an 11 point advantage at the top of the 2005 World Rally drivers' championship following his win in Cyprus today. Petter Solberg and Markko Martin are joint second on 34 points, while Toni Gardemeister moves up to fourth, on 28.

Citroen new boy Francois Duval did himself no favours once again today [Saturday], when he crashed out of the Cyprus Rally while lying in sixth place. The incident occurred on the penultimate test of the day - SS11 - when he hit a tree 4 kilometres.

Peugeot have finally elected to withdraw Marcus Gronholm from the Cyprus Rally - but not before making a complete a mockery of the SupeRally regulations.

Subaru's Chris Atkinson has been given a boost in the build-up to this weekend's event in Cyprus, with news that Northern Arch - 'a global provider of asset finance, fleet management, and consumer credit software' - will support the 25-year-old as he looks to firmly establish himself in the WRC.

The 33rd Cyprus Rally takes place this coming weekend - the sixth round out of sixteen in the 2005 FIA World Rally Championship. Cyprus will also play host to the third round in the 2005 FIA Production Car WRC.

Reigning world champion, Sebastien Loeb has revealed that one of the things that have given him the most pleasure of late - is not only his back-to-back victories, but the fact he has managed to beat Petter Solberg fair and square.

Ford number two driver, Roman Kresta will be preparing for the Cyprus Rally this weekend, by watching the 'box - however he won't be watching just any television programme, the Czech will be viewing last year's event, to get a feel for the stages.

This is an event where it pays to be a woman - that's the verdict of OMV World Rally Team driver, Natalie Barratt as she prepares for the arduous Cyprus Rally this weekend in a brand new Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII.

by Rob Wilkins. Current Junior World Rally championship leader, Kris Meeke has said that he is definitely hoping to step up to the 'senior' WRC in 2006 and compete against the likes of current 'greats' Sebastien Loeb and Petter Solberg.

Ford TeamRS director, Jost Capito has revealed that development work on the all-new Focus for 2006 is going well - and that they will begin producing the first few parts for it very soon.

Ford TeamRS director, Jost Capito has confirmed if drivers Toni Gardemeister and Roman Kresta continue to progress as they have been doing thus far this year, then there will not be any changes to the teams' driver line-up in 2006.

by Rob Wilkins. Britain's leading female rally driver, Natalie Barratt kicked off her Production Car WRC campaign in New Zealand at the beginning of April, and her next event will be in Cyprus in two weeks' time.

Mitsubishi team leader, Harri Rovanpera may have crashed out while trying to hang onto third Sunday in Sardinia, but the Finn - while admitting it was 'disappointing', added that it was 'just one of those things'.

Sebastien Loeb [Citroen]:

Subaru reject Mikko Hirvonen showed his old team boss, David Lapworth that he might have been wrong to drop him at the end of 2004, by putting in a storming performance today [Friday] on day one of the Rally Italia Sardinia - one that has won him all round applause.

Former WRC star, Colin McRae has revealed that he is 'considering' a move to NASCAR in the not to distant future.

The FIA World Rally Championship moves to Sardinia this weekend for the Rally Italia - round five in the 2005 championship. What will the weather be like? Over to Crash.net's weather guru, Martin Chuter to reveal all... Sardinia, Italy.

The organisers of the Wales Rally GB have announced that amateur drivers will benefit from substantial reductions in entry fees for September's running of the event - especially those driving cars with an engine capacity up to 1400cc.