With the Ford and Suzuki world rally teams having announced their drivers, and no scheduled changes at Citroën, the big picture is moving into focus regarding the main 2008 contenders.
On the other hand, nothing is official yet with the satellite outfits. One month away from the Monte Carlo debut to the season, there is much speculation added to what is already known.
Citroën Sport
Sébastien Loeb, four-time World Champion and Citroën team spearhead, will once again be racing for the French manufacturer. Spaniard Dani Sordo will be joining him as teammate once again, thereby adding stability to the line-up.
Rumour has it that a B team could be set up, also equipped with C4 cars. If such were the case, that does not necessarily mean that the satellite organisation would be challenging for the Constructors' Championship. Two names have been mentioned in connection with these C4s: Zimbabwean Conrad Rautenbach and Estonian Urmo Aava.
Ford World Rally Team
Mikko Hirvonen has officially been named Number One driver for the Ford team, in replacement of retiree Marcus Grönholm. Aboard the second Focus RS WRC will be another Finn, as Jari-Matti Latvala transfers from the Stobart team to become Hirvonen's teammate. As was the case this year, a third car will be entered for Khalid Al Qassimi of Qatar.
Subaru World Rally Team
All aboard for another round: Petter Solberg and Chris Atkinson return in 2008 for the Japanese team. The Norwegian and the Australian will be joined once again by Xevi Pons of Spain at the wheel of a third works Subaru Impreza. The big news for Subaru will be the launching of the totally new Impreza WRC during the course of the season.
Suzuki Motorsport
After two appearances during the 2007 season (with Nicolas Bernardi in Corsica and Sebastian Lindholm in Great Britain), the Suzuki team SX4 WRC car will be participating in every round of the 2008 campaign. Finn driver Toni Gardemeister and Swede double Junior Champion Per-Gunnar Andersson will be doing their best for the team.
Stobart and Munchi's
Things have not been completely finalized yet for the two satellite Ford teams. Jari-Matti Latvala has left Stobart to join the official Ford crew, while Matthew Wilson should again embark on a full season engagement. Henning Solberg is also expected to return with Stobart, but nothing official has yet been declared concerning the Norwegian.
Federico Villagra should be back with Munchi's Ford, although not for all of the 15 rounds indicated on the 2008 season calendar. Fellow Argentinian Luis Perez Companc should have a lighter program of four or five events.
Kronos Racing
Following the departure of main sponsor OMV, odds are that the Kronos Racing team will not participate in the 2008 WRC season. Marc Van Dalen's outfit will most probably concentrate on the Intercontinental Rally Challenge where, in cooperation with BFGoodrich, it will be employing the services of several drivers within the BFGoodrich Drivers Team programme.
Manfred Stohl might be present at a few world rally races, albeit within the Production Car championship.
