Peugeot and Citroen to pull out of WRC after 2005

[garcon]

Little further information available as yet, but Peugeot Citroen have announced they will withdraw from the WRC after the 2005 season.

What does this mean for WRC?

[BootsOntheSide]

I wonder if these two decisions were made independently?

It's terrible news for the series, especially coming so soon after Ford decided to stay. I suspect the series will become a haven for privateers, perhaps moving back towards its roots, as Ford and Suburu alone won't be able to support the series single-handedly.

[Roundy Mooney]

I hope PSA are not deciding to make another disasterous atempt at circut racing. Rallying is what the are good at and what they should stick at just like Ford.
They have got brillant exposure from the WRC over the last couple of years so I can't see why they would make this decision on a marketing basis.

[Kicking-back]

Ford have committed to the future, as have Mitsubishi.

It's not a disaster.

Back in the mid nineties there were times when Toyota and Subaru were the only fully-competitive full programmes and the series didn't fall apart.

[rustyfan]

While it may not be a disaster, it certainly is a shocker (to me, at least)! I did not see this one coming.

[Super Tourer]

From autosport.com

French car manufacturers Peugeot and Citroen will both withdraw from the World Rally Championship at the end of 2005, according to a statement from parent company PSA Peugeot Citroen on Thursday

PSA blamed tougher conditions in the car market for the decision, which it claims will enable it to significantly cut its sporting budget and allow it to evaluate new projects beyond 2005.

It always seems to happen to the WRC, as one team commits others leave. It all adds power to Max Mosleys argument about car makers pulling out of series, when it no longer suits, or in PSA'a case the tought car market tightens the purse strings.

It certainly galvanises the mind on the fact the motor sport is not any car makers core business, it's all marketing 'frippery' they can do without when things get tough. Not that this has ever been mentioned before...

[BSchneiderFan]

Ford, Subaru, Mitsubishi and Skoda are enough to sustain the WRC, but the PSA decision is very disappointing. Inexplicable, too, as they are at the height of the powers. Citroen are double champions, and the troublesome Peugeot 307 is improving. Oh dear.

[BootsOntheSide]

Maybe they feel they've got as much marketing kudos form the series as they ever will, having both won championships?

[Andrew Gunnell]

Originally posted by BSchneiderFan
Ford, Subaru, Mitsubishi and Skoda are enough to sustain the WRC,...

With Suzuki joining in 2006 and talk of other car companies looking at joining the championship in the furture. I don't think Peugeot and Citroen leaving will harm the championship.

[bigted]

On the driver front, doesnt it leave ford in a strong position now. Marko Martin was meant to bbe joinging Puegeot, and francois Duval to citroen. If i was those to id stay at Ford.

[Kicking-back]

Martin is still going to Peugeot, but Ford are hoping to keep Duval.

[chunder]

No way will MArtin go to Peugeot now as there is also no0 way they are gonna spend a ton of money developing the car are they!
Big shock to me as I thought they would both stay in for a while longer well at least one of them.
Marcus and Se are gonna be on the market then!
As others say, it won't be a disaster, there have been worse times, ion fact it might be forthe good and let a few more manufactureres in if the FIA continue to try and drive home measrures to cut budgets. But they have to do it in line with the teams as a teams budget will stay the same and they will just spend it on the cars instead of the logistics.
Sad day though no doubt for WRC, the French teams bring a certain tyoe of professionalism that had been missing from the championship

[429CJ]

Citroën would not probably develop their C4 either, just for a half or so season, it would go straight to museum without seeing any competition at all.

[rdjones]

I didn't see this one coming and it quite a shock. The same company running to sperate programs is very expensive and I am suprised that at least of the marques is not staying the championship.

Remember that it is rummoured the Renualt might be coming out to play too.

[MichaelC]

Also aren't Huyandi coming back to the party?

[rdjones]

Originally posted by MichaelC
Also aren't Huyandi coming back to the party?

Yes they are, I think they are planning to return in 2006.

[BSchneiderFan]

I'll believe that when I see it.

[esorniloc]

I always found it strange that a company would have 2 of there brands in 1 series. I always thought Peugeot would pull the plug after Citroen got into winning ways, but to pull both.

[Jordi]

Especially after wanting to introduce the C4 in mid 2005. Let's wait and see. It all looked set for Ford to leaver WRC, and well, they aren't.

[Cryos]

PSA blamed tougher conditions in the car market for the decision, which it claims will enable it to significantly cut its sporting budget and allow it to evaluate new projects beyond 2005.

Its the Opel story all over, in 2001 opel had a hard year with car sales, its fresh facelift on the vectra was selling ok but the brand hit build quality and mechanical and electrical problems.

The current citroen range is a disaster at the moment. since the change over to Multi-Plex Wireing systems on the citroens, the c3 and c5's are prone to electrical problems at the moment, the new bsi body computer boxes for controling the wiring causing most of the problems (box developed by siemens). Owning a C3 1.4 HDI myself i know from expirence that reliablity and build quality are not of a standard enherint to the brand before the C models started.

Peugeot have a simular storys, with only the new 407 being a problem free model, the 206cc and 206 are great sellers but are due to finish up soon to be replaced by the 1007, the problems lay in the other peugoet's like the 307, the most recent problems with the 307's are:

After locking the car on the button the car will re-open itself after 5 mins, a programming fault still left for the dealers to sort out untill the new facelift model

Double millage was also another problem, an error in the dash computer ment that millage was being clocked up wrongly (i think it was for every 1 acctual mile 2.4 miles were put on the clock).

Other minor problems with the Automatic Lights and Wipers, sensors failing after only a few months on some 307's.

The problems with peugeot and citroen is that most of their cars are based on the same platform (infact built in the same complex in paris). so they inherint simular problems, citroen and peugeot dealers are dieing of death over here.

[Adam43]

After the news of Ford and I thought that it would be good for keeping (both!) the Frenchies. Then we lose both.

Will this mean a reconsideration of S2000/ Ford were the only manufacturer keen on this. Although on the other hand Subaru were the least keen.

[Adam43]

And there will be many established good quality drivers available for not many good quality drives.

[Dani Filth]

they will have to fight to get Loeb

[racer69]

Originally posted by Jordi
Especially after wanting to introduce the C4 in mid 2005. Let's wait and see. It all looked set for Ford to leaver WRC, and well, they aren't.

The difference is though that Ford never came out with an announcement that they were leaving.

The pair of them are gone, once the decision is made, even though over a year in advance, they won't go back. It will be the same with Opel in the DTM, and with Chevrolet in Indycar racing.

Lets hope this does lead though to some changes and the Super 2000 Rally formula. Something needs to be done.