Dutch4x4
Senior Member
Van autosport.com:
Richards moves to make Skoda stay
November 17th 2005, 17:08 GMT
WRC commercial boss David Richards will try to save Skoda WRC programme in top-level meetings with executives from parent company Volkswagen.
And the Briton wants Colin McRae to lead its driving line-up, according to this week's Autosport.
Both Richards and former world champion McRae have been working behind the scenes to try and find the right package to keep Skoda in the WRC next season. McRae contested last week's Rally Australia in a Fabia WRC and was fighting for second when he retired with a transmission problem on the final leg.
Richards confirmed that he would be meeting with the Volkswagen board this week, but declined to comment on the precise nature of the talks.
He said: "If they put this car in the hands of a competitive private team with a fraction of the resources Skoda has had, the car could be challenging for a podium regularly - especially with Colin McRae driving."
Sources in Australia suggested the decision has already been taken to can the WRC programme for 2006, but team principal Martin Muehlmeier denied it.
He said: "We are still waiting for a decision about next year. I don't know what it will be, but what has happened probably won't help - although the car has shown the pace to be at the front."
Richards moves to make Skoda stay
November 17th 2005, 17:08 GMT
WRC commercial boss David Richards will try to save Skoda WRC programme in top-level meetings with executives from parent company Volkswagen.
And the Briton wants Colin McRae to lead its driving line-up, according to this week's Autosport.
Both Richards and former world champion McRae have been working behind the scenes to try and find the right package to keep Skoda in the WRC next season. McRae contested last week's Rally Australia in a Fabia WRC and was fighting for second when he retired with a transmission problem on the final leg.
Richards confirmed that he would be meeting with the Volkswagen board this week, but declined to comment on the precise nature of the talks.
He said: "If they put this car in the hands of a competitive private team with a fraction of the resources Skoda has had, the car could be challenging for a podium regularly - especially with Colin McRae driving."
Sources in Australia suggested the decision has already been taken to can the WRC programme for 2006, but team principal Martin Muehlmeier denied it.
He said: "We are still waiting for a decision about next year. I don't know what it will be, but what has happened probably won't help - although the car has shown the pace to be at the front."
