From autosport.com:

Skoda seeks answers from FIA

Czech squad has budget concerns for next year

Gardemeister is the only driver confirmed for '04

Skoda boss Petr Kohoutek says he cannot fully commit the Czech team's future to the World Rally Championship until the FIA offers a further explanation of the rule changes planned for next season.

According to a story in AUTOSPORT Magazine, Kohoutek confirmed that Skoda's 2004 budget had been set in the middle of this year. He admitted that there was not enough cash to run the whole season.

The FIA's late regulation changes have now caused financial headaches for more than one team. The governing body recently increased the number of rallies to 16 and changed the recce and servicing procedures.

Get McRae in as a pay to drive driver.

Thats a damn shame thought they looked good coming around the mountain

And parked up for the night

Looks like the FIA are doing a good job of f**king the championship up, changing the points system which meant drivers stopped going for wins ie Burnsie, top drivers with no seats, loosing Manufactures, do they not talk to the teams before bringing in these rules.

Hopefully with experienced drivers driving the cars they will gain valuable information.

http://www.wrc-online.net/article.asp?stid=2546 Skoda set for limited 2004 programme

Ron Salter, Wed November 5, 2003

Skoda Motorsport World Rally Team look set to limit their 2004 World Rally Championship programme to just 10 European events on the calendar - as a result of the raft of rule changes brought in for next season by motorsport's governing body, the FIA.

Equally surprising news from an interview given today by Vratislav Kulhanek, Chairman of the board of Skoda Auto directors, to Czech sport newspaper 'Denik Sport' sees the second car alongside Toni Gardemeister set to be shared by no less than four drivers; Ex Skoda-drivers Armin Schwarz and Roman Kresta are on the list, as well as young Czech Jan Kopecky and most shocking of all, Harri Rovanpera!

It appears that in light of increased costs and continuing uncertainty over the rules, the Czech manufacturer have chosen to take a year in development ready to renew their attack on the championship in 2005. The decision to not run the whole championship means Skoda will not be eligible for manufacturers points next year.

Current Fabia pilot Didier Auriol is expected to leave the team after the new programme is confirmed.

Meanwhile, it appears that Harri Rovanpera negotiated a clause in his contract with Peugeot which means he may choose to drive for a different manufacturer when he pleases - negotiations between the Finn and Skoda are ongoing about a drive on Rally Finland 2004.

Rumours suggest that Skoda are developing a revolutionary new engine for the WRC for the following season of 2005 encorporating the Volkswagen Group's FSI technology which gives more power and better economy in an otherwise standard petrol engine.

Schwarz and Kresta would both be popular returnees to the Czech marque - the German after 2 uninspired years at Hyundai and Kresta after a successful 2003 campaign with Bozian racing's 206 WRC.

We will of course bring you more as we get it, nevertheless these plans should be taken fairly seriously considering that the news has come right from the very top of Skoda Auto!

Ah, that's bad news, but in the light of FIA's good job of ruining a good thing, not quite unexpected... And to quote our enlightened oracle of Dutch philosophy, Johan Cruijff, "Every disadvantage has an advantage". So they might return as a stronger team for 2005!

Rumours suggest that Skoda are developing a revolutionary new engine for the WRC for the following season of 2005 encorporating the Volkswagen Group's FSI technology which gives more power and better economy in an otherwise standard petrol engine.

So that would be the 2.0T FSI then?

What's revolutionary about that? It's only your standard VAG road-car stuff with which Audi/Bentley have also won Le Mans four times on the trot...

Seems a sensible decision - dump that old bored out 1.8T and go for the latest Audi technology!

So that would be the 2.0T FSI then?

By the way, do I see a 200hp Fabia 2.0T FSI (v)RS looming in the not too far distance?

I honestly think dropping Didier is no bad thing, I don't think he's lived up to the promises or hype or pay packet.

Toni however continues to give solid results.

Am I the only one who has totally lost interest in WRC over the last 3 years ?

I regularly attended Rally GB in the Lombard RAC days but since it moved to Wales only, and the FIA rules changed, I can't be bothered. Sad but true.

I wish that we could get back to the old formula which gave excitement. Namely:-

1) 4x4 and Turbo

2) A truly National UK Rally (where you could follow the rally around the country)

3) No rip-off pricing.

Perhaps its just me but isn't the above obvious ?

Fabprezza, I agree, and the worst of it is that the FIA say that the changes 'make it better for people watching' what a load of CodsWhallop!!!