Carlos Sainz says he is extremely proud to be Citroen's second driver next season after Citroen announced last week that it was favouring the Spaniard over current team-mate Colin McRae.

Sainz is currently lying equal second in the drivers' championship with Petter Solberg, but the Spaniard reckons team-mate Loeb, 10 points behind pacesetter Richard Burns, will be the man in the money seat come the end of the season.



"I think this year Seb can be world champion – I honestly think it could be him as he is very quick on asphalt," he said. "I would like to fight with him for the rest of this year and next year. There will be some when he is in front and some when I am in front. It is important to have good rallies. That is why I am staying on next year."

Asphalt expert, and Gronholm's Peugeot team-mate, Gilles Panizzi often goes karting to hone his tarmac skills. The Frenchman has won the Sanremo for the past three years.

Subaru has appointed former World Champion co-driver, Luis Moya, as its Sporting Director.



Moya was Carlos Sainz's co-driver for 14 years until he retired at the end of last season. Subaru team boss David Lapworth says Moya has "the perfect blend of hands-on experience, strategic know-how and enthusiasm" and enjoys a first class reputation with drivers and teams alike.



"Rallying has always been my passion," said Moya. "Since I left the co-driver's seat at the end of the 2002 season, I've been thinking carefully about other opportunities within the sport. For me, Subaru is the most prestigious team in the WRC, and the opportunity to work as part of their management team, especially at such a dynamic and exciting time, is just perfect."_



Working with Team Principal David Lapworth and Team Manager Paul Howarth, Moya will join Subaru in time for the start of the San Remo rally on 3 October. His main areas of responsibility will be driver management, event strategy, and managing the team's relationship with the FIA.



"Anyone who knows Luis will tell you he's an inspirational and charismatic figure," said Lapworth. "With Solberg, Burns and the ongoing development of the Impreza, 2004 looks set to be one of the most exciting seasons our team has known, but it also promises to be one of the most fiercely competitive. Luis is an excellent team motivator, and with him on board, coupled with the skill of our other key managers, I believe no-one can match our new team's passion and expertise."

No Hyundai in 2004 WRC
A probable come-back for the Korean constructor in 2006 [17/09/03 - 15:47]

Only a few more rallies left
for the official Hyundai team:
Hyundai will not take part in the 2004 World Rally Championship. The Korean team will complete the rallies in 2003 and then it will stop to better prepare a come back in a few years, a little bit like Mitsubishi is doing at the moment.
The lack of results and the numerous reliability problems encountered by Hyundai this season were not very positive for the team. The high-cost of the sport is possibly another element that influenced their decision to leave WRC competition.
There is also a contractual dispute between Hyundai and Milton Keynes-based Motorsport Developments Limited (MSD), the company that prepares the Accent, mostly for private customers. "MSD is in a contractual dispute with Hyundai Motor Corporation and until such time as this dispute is settled, we have decided to send the staff home," confirmed Ellie Storey of MSD. "We hope to have a solution soon."
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