No VW Dakar Drive for Gordon

Gordon impressed on his Dakar debut earlier this year, setting a fastest stage time before problems dropped him down the order, and he had been expected to get another chance in 2006.

But with Volkswagen now close to finalising their line-up for the Dakar, and confirming they will contest build-up events in Portugal and the UAE, the German car manufacturer's motorsport boss Kris Nissen has said it was unlikely Gordon would figure in their planned assault.

Nissan said that one other works driver will be added to their teams of Carlos Sainz/Andreas Schulz, Jutta Kleinschmidt/Fabrizia Pons, Giniel de Villiers/Tina Thoerner and Bruno Saby/Michel Perin.

"We will fill the final vacant cockpit in the forthcoming weeks", said Nissen. "However, with all probability Robby Gordon will not be the fifth works driver.

"With the events in Portugal and the United Arab Emirates we want to give all five works drivers, in addition to the intensive test programme, the opportunity to compete in an extra competitive event and to prepare themselves perfectly for the Dakar Rally in January."