Following Tuesday’s news that Francois Duval will join reigning champion Sebastien Loeb at Citroen for 2005, and the likely unveiling of a deal between Peugeot and Markko Martin, the teams’ line-ups for next season are starting to take shape.
Duval’s surprise move from Ford to Citroen – despite the recent announcement that it will quit the World Rally Championship at the end of next year - means the Belgian has rejected the chance of a four-year deal to lead the Blue Oval’s rallying effort following the recent announcement of its renewed commitment to the World Rally Championship.
Team-mate Martin has also been strongly linked with a move to Peugeot, although this deal has yet to be announced. Some service park sources have suggested that Martin is still looking at other options, following the news that Peugeot will join sister firm Citroen by leaving rallying at the end of 2005, but the Estonian admitted this week that last weekend’s Telstra Rally Australia was his last with the Ford team (click here to read more).
That leaves Ford with two open seats for 2005, and a host of drivers are believed to have contacted the team, including Skoda driver Toni Gardemeister, Mitsubishi’s Daniel Sola and Kristian Sohlberg, Xavier Pons and other privateers. Current Subaru driver Mikko Hirvonen and privateer Janne Tuohino are also likely to be in the frame, as they both have strong links with the team. Subaru is looking at a number of drivers for its second seat alongside 2003 champion Petter Solberg, although current signing Hirvonen is expected to be among them. British Junior WRC drivers Guy Wilks and Kris Meeke could also be in the frame.
The Mitsubishi team already has asphalt ace Gilles Panizzi contracted for 2005, but regular Peugeot gravel signing Harri Rovanpera has entered the frame for the second seat, although the Japanese team’s young guns, Daniel Sola, Kristian Sohlberg and Gianluigi Galli are also likely to be under consideration. Skoda has Armin Schwarz signed up for next year, but has been in talks with 1995 champion Colin McRae about the possibility of a part deal for the Scot and his protégé Kris Meeke. Toni Gardemeister, Czech driver Jan Kopecky and fast Finn Jani Paasonen are also possibilities for the second seat.
