No Citroën, Peugeot, Skoda or Mitsubishi for 2006 WRC

The 2006 World Rally Championship kicks off later this month with the traditional Monte carlo Rally season opener.

Centred on the millionaire's playground of Monaco, the 'Monte' starts on Friday, January 20. And while world champion Sebastien Loeb (pictured at the 2005 Monte Carlo Rally) will be back to defend his title, it will be in a privateer Citroën Xsara, not the factory car of last season.

Citroën has withdrawn from the championship ahead of rule changes and the a return and debut of a new C4-based WRC in season 2007.

It's not the only manufacturer to leave the championship in 2006 -- Peugeot, Skoda and Mitsubishi have all withdrawn, though the Europeans will support private squads.

Skoda will support two private teams in 2006, providing WRC 05 Fabias to the Czech team of Jan Kopecky and Austria's Red Bull Skoda Team.

Detlef Wittig, Skoda Auto's chairman, said: "We believe that this is the most cost-effective way in which to maintain Skoda brand's presence in the series."

The Volkswagen-owned Czech carmaker caused a stir in 2005 tempting multi world champ Colin McRae to make a WRC return. McRae raced in the Wales Rally GB and Rally Australia (pictured).

The team only made a full-time return to the world championship in 2005, having raced the Fabia in selected events in 2004.

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) meantime has announced it has suspended participation in the WRC. The troubled carmaker says it will focus management resources on its "corporate revitalisation plan." 

Mitsubishi Motors hopes to return to the WRC Championship series from 2008.

Peugeot will support the Bozian Racing squad with sponsorship from German oil company, OMV. The team's two 307CCs will be driven by Henning Solberg and Manfred Stohl.

Subaru and Ford remain committed to the championship and will both campaign new cars in 2006. Australian Chris Atkinson has been re-signed to the Team Subaru and will partner, former world champion Petter Solberg. Former Peugeot leadman, Marcus Gronholm, will drive for Ford with BP sponsorship.

Defending champ Loeb and co-driver Daniel Elena will race for Belgian-based Kronos Total Citroën World Rally Team. The team will enter a total of three Citroën Xsara WRC cars in the Monte Carlo Rally -- the other cars manned by young Spaniard, Xavier Pons and co-driver Carlos Del Barrio; and newly-crowned Junior World Rally champion, Daniel Sordo and Marc Marti.