paul
Team Owner
Two-time World Rally Champion Carlos Sainz has said he is prepared to take a pay cut next year in order to secure a top line drive
Sainz and team-mate Colin McRae come to the end of their current contracts with Ford this year and one of the pair is thought to be a main target of French manufacturer Citroen, who contests its first full WRC season in 2003.
Citroen and Ford have yet to decide their rally team's budget for next season, but Sainz – reputed to be one of the sport's highest earners – says the global economy means he is realistic about what teams can afford to pay.
"The global situation is not easy," Sainz told Motorsport News. "We see football suffering and cutting, and I suppose if football is suffering, it can be the same in rallying.
"I consider myself very well paid and I have no problem if I have to cut my salary. If I really want to drive in a good team next year, maybe I have to."
Only rising stars Markko Martin and Francois Duval have contracts with Ford for 2003 and it seems that either Sainz or McRae will leave at the end of this season after Martin Whitaker, the manufacturer's European motor sport director, said that he can't imagine the team would have four drivers next year.
"If you are in the WRC for the long term you have got to look at the youth opportunities," said Whitaker. "Let's put it this way: I very much doubt that we would have four drivers [in 2003]. Whatever we do in our motorsport activities, we have to demonstrate value to the company."
Sainz and team-mate Colin McRae come to the end of their current contracts with Ford this year and one of the pair is thought to be a main target of French manufacturer Citroen, who contests its first full WRC season in 2003.
Citroen and Ford have yet to decide their rally team's budget for next season, but Sainz – reputed to be one of the sport's highest earners – says the global economy means he is realistic about what teams can afford to pay.
"The global situation is not easy," Sainz told Motorsport News. "We see football suffering and cutting, and I suppose if football is suffering, it can be the same in rallying.
"I consider myself very well paid and I have no problem if I have to cut my salary. If I really want to drive in a good team next year, maybe I have to."
Only rising stars Markko Martin and Francois Duval have contracts with Ford for 2003 and it seems that either Sainz or McRae will leave at the end of this season after Martin Whitaker, the manufacturer's European motor sport director, said that he can't imagine the team would have four drivers next year.
"If you are in the WRC for the long term you have got to look at the youth opportunities," said Whitaker. "Let's put it this way: I very much doubt that we would have four drivers [in 2003]. Whatever we do in our motorsport activities, we have to demonstrate value to the company."
