FIA rule change halved the number of drivers

FIA Rally World Championship undergoes changes

Going into the season 2004, only five constructors’ teams instead of the thought seven have engaged to take part in all the championship events.

After the season 2003, as many as four former world champions are out
of the Rally World Championship series (Mäkinen, Auriol, Burns, McRae).
The rapid rate of rule changes by the FIA delayed and complicated the
decision making of all the teams concerning the season 2004.

As a result, the current season gets started in a somewhat reduced form
because some of the teams have decided to leave the series, at least for
a time. Also the organizers of the rallies are yet, at the beginning of the
saseon, a little uncertain about the final form the events are going to take.
The FIA has introduced new rules at such a brisk pace that it wouldn’t be
a big surprise if some parts of the regulations were yet to be altered as
the season goes on.

FIA rule change halved the number of drivers
Few team places left – only five teams in the series in 2004

According to the outlines in August 2003, all the teams could enter in
every rally three drivers eligible for constructors’ championship points.
One of the three was meant to be a so-called rising talent. This “third
driver” was to be one who hadn’t reached a podium position during the
last three seasons. In August 2003, it still seemed that there would be 14
all-year vacancies for drivers in 2004, plus seven third driver places, all of
which could be shared by several drivers. This would have guaranteed
work for 21 to 28 drivers.
However, the FIA modified the rule so that each team can enter only two
cars to qualify for constructors’ points in each world championship rally.
One of the drivers must remain the same throughout the year, but the
driver of the second car can vary from one event to another. The “third
driver rule” has been forgotten altogether. Going into the season 2004,
only five constructors’ teams instead of the thought seven have engaged
to take part in all the championship events. Hyundai made known already
in September that they are going to withdraw for a while. Skoda, for their
part, told they would participate in some European rallies outside of the
championship series. Thus there are only five teams involved, offering
only five “permanent” places for the first drivers, plus five places in which
several drivers can alternate. This way, the number of drivers needed in
the series has been reduced at least by half, compared to what was
expected in August.