Meeke close to Subaru deal

The 25-year-old has been on the team's shortlist of possible drivers for 2005 for some time, but McRae has admitted that talks between Meeke and the team have moved forward.

"We have a verbal offer from Subaru for one or two World Rally Championship rounds next season," McRae told Autosport. "It's more likely to be two. At the moment it's the only chance of getting Kris into a works world rally car for next season."

Team boss David Lapworth refused to confirm who would partner Petter Solberg next year, but admitted that a decision would come soon.

"This is a fairly crucial week for the team," said Lapworth. "This is when we are going to make a lot of decisions about where we go next season. That will involve meetings about the budget and our strategy - which includes the second driver in the team."

In addition to contesting any WRC rounds, McRae also wants Meeke to run in the Production Car and Junior WRCs.

"At the moment the whole thing is dependant on finding cash," said McRae. "That's hard enough to do at any time of the season, but particularly hard right now.

"For the sake of the championship, we need a British driver back in there next season. There are lots of drivers with potential, not only Kris. There's me, Alister [McRae] and Guy [Wilks] around. It would be good to see our governing body getting behind drivers like Kris, who are right on the brink of being the world's best."

Frenchman Stephane Sarrazin is also believed to have signed a deal with Subaru to drive the second factory Impreza on the asphalt rounds of the championship.