Petter Solberg and Chris Atkinson are trying to work out their next moves after Subaru?s decision to pull out of the WRC left them, and their co-drivers, without seats for 2009.
Both drivers are well established at Subaru and both have contracts until the end of 2009.
Solberg is almost part of the furniture at Subaru. And despite a relationship which has had its ups and downs in recent seasons, the 2003 world champion has remained loyal to the squad since he was poached from Ford midway through the 2000 season.
Chris Atkinson landed his first factory-team contract when he joined the team in 2005. He?s been there ever since.
Atkinson and Solberg we told of Subaru?s decision on Monday, when a Subaru representative flew from the factory in Japan to the south of France to tell them face to face.
?I sort of knew something was going on, but I didn?t expect this,? Atkinson told wrc.com. ?Now we have to figure out where to go from here. Nothing?s certain. To be honest it?s all still a bit of a shock. Obviously it?s disappointing - we put in four years at Subaru trying our best at every race. Now all I know is there?s nothing more planned.?
Atkinson thought it was ?unlikely? that he would be competing on Rally Ireland - the first event of 2009 - but revealed he hadn?t yet discussed the matter with anybody at the team?s UK headquarters. ?The team haven?t spoken to me. Not a word. I guess that?s just the way it is,? he said.
Solberg, meanwhile, refused to talk about the matter. ?I need to evaluate the situation before I make any public statement,? Solberg wrote on his website. ?I understand that media and the public would like to have answers to all their questions right now, but I ask you all to be patient and wait until tomorrow.?