Puras and Auriol out in cold for 2002?

[AndyF]

Citroen have announced that thier driver line-up for 2002 will be Sebastien Loeb, Phillipe Bugalski and Thomas Radstrom. This leaves Corsica winner Jesus Puras, and Peugeot's Didier Auriol without a drive! Only Hyundai and Skoda have seats remaining!!

Also, has Loix found a seat for next year yet?

[rdjones]

Well that is the last "Big" seat filled for next year. I can see that Auriol going to Hyundai, I think that Puras will end up having to pick up privateer rides, but after all he is a tamac driver anyway and no good on gravel. As for Loix he will end up in private, but works backed Ford or Subaru.

[MichaelC]

That's a bit of a surprise to me - I'd have thought that Radstrom blew is chance by not doing very well for Ford a couple of years back. No doubt Puras will find a drive somewhere, perhaps Griffone will hire him?

[SJ Spode]

And things have got chillier for Didier since it was announced that his co-driver Denis Giraudet will be joining Citroen to team up with Thomas Radstrom.

Funnily enough Auriol & Giraudet were featured on the latest Rally XS programme on Eurosport saying how the driver/co-driver relationship is like a marriage (ah well, there's another for the divorce stats).

As for Auriol it looks like Hyundai or Griffone now.

[AndyF]

I am also suprised Radstrom got the seat, having retired from the only event this year so far!