Puras dropped by Citroen for 2002

The French manufacturer has announced its WRC programme and driver line-up for 2002. The team will compete on seven events next year compared to the four it entered this season, as Citroen gears up for a full WRC campaign in 2003.

Dropping Puras, who won the Corsica Rally last month, is a surprise, especially as his replacement Radstrom was thought to be out of favour with Citroen after retiring from the Acropolis Rally this year, his only event with the team. But Radstrom carried out a lot of the Xsara's development work on gravel this season and could be better suited to the events Citroen has chosen for 2002.

Young gun Sebastien Loeb and Citroen favourite Philippe Bugalski have been kept on in the other two Xsaras. Loeb and Radstrom will take in all seven events - Monte Carlo, Sweden, Spain, Acropolis, Safari, Finland and Germany - while Bugalski will be limited to three.

The line-up decision looks to be bad news for ex-world champion Didier Auriol. The Frenchman has lost his place at Peugeot with the signing of Briton Richard Burns for next year, and Citroen appeared to be his only hope of a top drive. Given that his long-time co-driver Denis Giraudet has joined Radstrom at Citroen, the indications are that Auriol could be left on the sidelines for 2002. Only Hyundai and Skoda have drives available.