McRae could still drive a Fabia in 2006

Colin McRae could still drive a Fabia WRC in the 2006 World Rally Championship, despite the manufacturers withdrawal of it's official entry from the series.

The Scot's manager, Campbell Roy, talking in today's Motorsport News said: "Skoda were never going to continue as a manufacturer for some time. Our negotiations have been on a privateer basis and they are still ongoing."

"I don't know what opportunities there are but the discussions are not dead in the water", he continued.

McRae's hopes of netting a Red Bull Fabia, would appear however to rest on the FIA relaxing the stipulation that a Manufacturer 2 team cannot enter a driver who has been classified among the first 6 in the final classification of the FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers in the last 5 years.

After today's announcement of Mitsubishi's withdrawal, the governing body might well be persuaded to act on this, considering there are now only 4 "Manufacturer One" driving slots in 2006 - and they are all taken.

Meanwhile it appears that Skoda are continuing to test a 'passive' Fabia built to the 2006 rules. Maybe there is some more news to come yet.