By David Evans & Steven English Friday, May 2nd 2008, 13:57 GMT
Citroen could quit the WRC for the DTM after 2009Citroen could join the DTM in 2010 if they go through with their threat to quit the World Rally Championship at the end of next season.
Citroen Sport team principal Olivier Quesnel admitted that the current promotional package of the WRC is not enough to keep the marque involved in the sport beyond 2009.
He believes the DTM currently offers manufacturers better value for money and a better platform on which to demonstrate their cars.
"I went to Hockenheim to look at the DTM race and the promotion of that series is on another planet compared to the WRC," said Quesnel.
"Citroen give me the budget and I have to use it in the best possible way. We have a new car, the C5, which is in the market with the Audi A4 and the Mercedes C-class, so we have to look at things."
Another factor in Citroen's decision will be the future of Sebastien Loeb. The four-time champion's current contract is up at the end of the 2009 season.
Quesnel added that the promotion of the WRC would need to improve significantly before he committed to developing a new car for the forthcoming rule changes in 2010.
"If we are quite sure the WRC is a good idea then we can make the investment in the new car," he said. "But we are not here to race for the sake of the race. We are here to sell cars.
"I was happy to be in Jordan, but where were the spectators? We don't sell enough cars there - we need to be in China. If there is no promotion in WRC, it doesn't matter that the costs are becoming less and less."
