Frequelin unable to promise Duval Citroen future.

Despite the Belgian driving a controlled final leg to secure his first World Rally Championship victory, Citroen boss Guy Frequelin has been unable to guarantee Francois Duval a place with the marque next season.

Frequelin's dilemma is caused by Citroen's decision to take a one-year sabbatical from running a factory team in the WRC, although it has confirmed that it will return in 2007 with all-new C4 models. Obviously keen to keep double world champion Sebastien Loeb in the fold, the Frenchman has found his compatriot a berth at the privateer Kronos squad for next year but, with current incumbent Manfred Stohl claiming third in Australia and Xavier Pons having already been promised at least a half-season with the Belgian squad, difficult decisions about the rest of the line-up remain in the coming weeks.

Duval has readily admitted that he hopes to continue working alongside Loeb next season, having benefited from the Frenchman's advice after coming back from a difficult start to his Citroen career, but Frequelin insists that finances will also play an important part in deciding who drives where in 2006.

"For sure, I'm very happy that Francois has won this rally - I'm happy for the crew and happy that Citroen gave them the possibility to win - but it's difficult to say at the moment [what there is] for Francois next season," he admitted, "We are trying to find a sponsor for 2006 because, as you know, Citroen stops in 2006 and comes back in 2007. I know it's very important for Francois and [co-driver] Sven [Smeets], but I also hope Manfred and [co-driver] Ilka [Minor] will continue with Kronos.

Asked what he thought of the potential of the existing Xsara in private hands next season, Frequelin admitted that Stohl's performance in Australia suggested good things, as did Kronos' ability to take rookie Daniel Sordo to this year's JWRC title, but insisted that he did not want to make predictions.

"I think it's very difficult to answer that question," he said, "For sure, we will try to give the best car to the teams, but it's very difficult to say whether it's possible to win the championship with a private team. It won't be easy, as there are other teams who I know work very hard and will have new cars."

ORECA and PH Sport have also asked to be able to run privateer Xsaras next season, so a couple of alternatives may yet come Duval's way, but a lot depends on which 'various championships' the two intend to contest and whether they would be able to offer the Belgian a full season. Kronos is assumed to be looking at running just two Xsaras on each event next season.

"It's important for us to have a good result with Kronos, and also with other teams if they want to rent a Xsara," Frequelin concluded, "We don't want to rent too many, but we want to rent good cars and find a solution with good teams to try to have good results in 2006."