End of the road for Skoda

The Skoda Trophy, which began in 1984, will disappear because the Czech car manufacturer wants to concentrate its efforts at world championship level.

Skoda's board of directors has decided grass roots motorsport no longer suits the company's marketing strategy.

Competitors criticised the decision. Jim Clark Rally winner Dave West said, 'It's incredibly disappointing. Not only has it deprived us of our sport, but it has totally devalued our cars.'

This year the series supported the British Rally Championship, and a Skoda company source suggested it was unhappy with this move.

He said the marque's profile was being damaged by running the series as a sideshow to the main event.

All may not be lost though, and the championship might be saved by BRC organiser John Horton. He said, 'We hope to run a Skoda series next year with the help of private sponsors.

'Drivers and cars all want to go rallying on the BRC next year. Two of the series' sponsors - Hella and Yokohama - have agreed to stay on, and we're looking to run in 2000 under a different banner.'