Skoda withdraws factory team from 2006 WRC

Skoda Auto has announced that it will not participate in the 2006 World Rally Championship with a factory team. Instead, the company will support two private teams, one from the Czech Republic and one from Austria.

The Czech team will be a single-car effort, while the Austrian Red Bull Skoda Team will run two cars. Both teams will run a limited 10-race schedule within the 16-race season.

As the FIA rally regulations continue to evolve in attempt to control the cost of competing in the WRC, Skoda has decided to adopt a "wait and see" approach, running its 2005 spec cars with privateers while it waits to decide if it will return with a factory team in the future, when the dust settles.