WRC: M-Sport still lacks full season funding

M-Sport is still fighting to fund its presence on all 14 rounds of the 2016 World Rally Championship despite confirmation from the FIA of the firm's manufacturer status.

WRC regulations stipulate that a manufacturer must contest all rallies, but team principal Malcolm Wilson has admitted he is still not in a position to confirm this will be possible.

"Don't get me wrong, we are working flat out to make that happen, but at the moment, nothing has really changed," Wilson said. "We don't have the budget confirmed for all 14, so I can't tell you definitively that we will be at every event."

Wilson pointed out that the onset of the new generation of World Rally Cars coming in 2017 remained a priority for M-Sport. The test and development program for the team's new car allied to the addition of another long-haul WRC round in China will make 2016 a tough season logistically.

Wilson has discussed plans with drivers Mads Ostberg and Eric Camilli.

"We've had a meeting and been through our test plan with the guys, but that's for the first six months," said Wilson. "After that we need to see where they are [in the championship] and what we need to do for the new car. The new car has to be the priority."

Confirmation of M-Sport's exact program needs to be made public before next week's Monte Carlo Rally, the opening WRC round of the season

The other two manufacturer entries – Volkswagen and Hyundai – have confirmed attendance at all 14 2016 WRC rounds. Citroen will only be present with semi-works PH Sport entries on between six and 10 rallies as it focuses on 2017 preparations.

Originally on Autosport.com