French automaker Citroën is re-evaluating its World Rally Championship involvement after "sales in its core markets" have drastically decreased. Citroën Team Principal Yves Matton said that eight time WRC champion Sébastien Loeb will most likely retire after the '13 season. Loeb's retirement could influence the manufactures evaluation of its rally program. PSA, which owns Citroën, said in a statement, "The traditionally strong markets for Peugot and Citroën -- France, Spain and Italy -- are in the midst of a crisis." Citroën could discontinue its WRC involvement at the end of the '12 season (MOTORSPORT-TOTAL.com, 7/12).
NISSAN TO JOIN WTCC: In Munich, Stefan Ziegler reported that Japanese automaker Nissan is rethinking its motorsports involvement and could join the World Touring Car Championship in '13. Nissan announced that it will decide within the next six months on which racing series it will join. Besides the WTCC, Nissan is also considering joining the World Rally Championship, the World Endurance Championship and the German Touring Car Championship. Nissan Corp. VP Simon Sproule said, "If we want to start a new project next year or the year after, then we have to start working on it rather soon. We also think about how our motorsports program should develop over the next ten years" (MOTORSPORT-TOTAL.com, 7/14).
