Freddy Loix and Carlos Sainz have voiced their doubts about remaining in the championship in the future, with Loix saying his three upcoming tar rallies could be his last attempt to stay in the sport.
Freddy Loix and Carlos Sainz have voiced their doubts about remaining in the championship in the future, with Loix saying his three upcoming tar rallies could be his last attempt to stay in the sport.
Veteran Loix, who was excluded from the French team in favour of Harri Rovanpera after poor performances in Monte Carlo and Sweden, will drive for the team on the tarred surfaces of Germany, France and Spain.
As yet, it is still insure whether he would be the second points-scoring driver alongside Marcus Gronholm, or whether he would drive a third Peugeot 307, reported.
In an attempt to help Peugeot regain the manufacturer’s championship title, the team could use one of its up-and-coming tar stars – Bryan Bouffier, Cedric Robert or Nicolas Vouilloz – instead. Peugeot have apparently also been keen to offer a works-backed drive to privateer Daniel Carlsson who finished third overall at the recent Acropolis Rally.
Loix has said that he will have to post solid finishes on his three events with Peugeot to stand a chance of returning to the WRC in 2005.
"I think I don’t have much of a chance anymore," Loix said. "If I want to stay in the business, I have to be somewhere on the podium."
Meanwhile, Citroën’s Carlos Sainz has admitted that he could retire at the end of the season, and has said that a final decision is likely to come in October.
"I hope this year we are in a transition season," he said. "We are having some new ideas – some are good, and some I don’t think are working well. I think everyone needs to work together to make this sport better for everyone," Sainz said.
Sainz departure could cause some upheaval in the driver market, as Citroën has already targeted Ford’s Markko Martin as a possible Sainz replacement. The Estonian is also said to be in talks with Peugeot and Subaru about drives for 2005 and beyond.