World Rally News

Natalie Barratt has secured a deal that will see her continue to drive a MSD-prepared Hyundai Accent WRC? on rounds of the 2003 FIA World Rally Championship. The world's top female rally driver will initially contest three out of the first four rounds of the series.

Double FIA World Rally Champion Marcus Gronholm has slammed the decision to adopt the new F1 points system for 2003. During the 2002 campaign points were awarded to the top six finishers, in a 10-6-4-3-2-1 pattern.

Crash.net has uploaded some pictures of the official unveiling of the 2003 Marlboro Peugeot Total World Rally Team that took place in Monte Carlo last month.

Citroen Sport has today confirmed that Carlos Sainz will race for the outfit during the 2003 FIA World Rally Championship.

The 2003 WRC campaign will see Peugeot defend its Manufacturers' and Drivers' crowns with the same driver line-up and car that took it to such an exceptional crop of successes in 2002.

In the wake of contract negotiations elsewhere in the rally world, the 555 Subaru World Rally Team has confirmed that it will continue its long-standing relationship with Pirelli and, for the 2003 season, will benefit from an exclusive tyre supply deal with the Italian tyre manufacturer.

Ford Rallye Sport will change tyre partner for the 2003 FIA World Rally Championship season and run its Ford Focus RS World Rally Cars on Michelin rubber for the next three years. The Focus used the French company's tyres for two seasons following the car's debut in 1999.

The FIA yesterday announced the entry list for the 2003 World Rally Championship, there were no major surprises, and the main point of interest is that Ford have confirmed (as expected) that Markko Martin will lead the team next year.

Mitsubishi Motors, in line with the recent reorganisation of its motor sports activities and the pause decided for the 2003 FIA WRC season, announced yesterday the appointment of Mario Fornaris as technical director at Ralliart Europe, its FIA WRC team.

Carlos Sainz and his long time co-driver Luis Moya look set to split after 15 years working together according to reports by Spanish newspaper Marca .

2001 World Rally Champion Richard Burns has promised he will be even better prepared next season, starting in January with the Monte Carlo Rally.

Citroen Sport has denied reports that two time World Rally champion Carlos Sainz has reached an agreement to race with the team in next year's WRC.

Scot Alister McRae has revealed that he is 'shocked' following Mitsubishi's decision to take a year out from the World Rally Championship in 2003.

Citroen Sport new boy Colin McRae is the most successful rally driver, in terms of wins in the history of the World Rally Championship. The Scot loves rallying, loves motor sport and, more than that, just loves speed.

Mitsubishi's decision to pull out of next year's World Rally Championship came as a big shock even to series insiders. Andrew Cowan, chairman of Ralliart Europe, which runs the programme explained the thinking behind the decision to test in 2003 and return to the WRC in 2004.

World Rally star Colin McRae was in London yesterday promoting his new Video/DVD biography, Colin McRae - Pedal to the metal . Crash.net was lucky enough to chat with the 1995 WRC champion and here you can read that discussion in full.

Mitsubishi driver Francois Delecour believes that the team's best hope of a competitive return to the World Rally Championship in 2004 is a new car.

The FIA World Rally Championship looks set to copy Formula One, and introduce the same revised points system in 2003.

Propecia Rally New Zealand, confirmed as the fourth round of next year's revamped World Rally Championship in April, will be based in Northland for two days for the first time.

Carlos Sainz looks set to join Citroen signing Colin McRae at the French equip according to reports on BBC Online which place a decision as forthcoming next week.

Welshman David Higgins battled valiantly against the cream of Word Rally Championship drivers this weekend, as he and co-driver Daniel Barritt made their debut in a Barretts of Kent Subaru Impreza World Rally Car on the Rally of Great Britain.

A brilliant drive netted Niall McShea second position on the Network Q Rally Great Britain on Sunday, the Junior World Rally Championship driver scoring the Ray Mallock Limited-prepared Opel Corsa Super 1600 car's best result of the season.

After an outstanding performance, reigning British Touring Car Champion James Thompson took second place in the Group N class of the 2002 Rally of Great Britain.

Entering the final stage of this year's Network Q Rally of Great Britain, Natalie Barratt has moved up to 23rd position.