Manufacturers’ Championship entries confirmed Car numbers for the 2009 World Rally Championship for Manufacturers have been allocated by the sport’s governing body, the FIA. The competition numbers will not change throughout the season. As winner of the World Championship for Manufacturers in 2008, Citroen has been allocated numbers one and two, while runner-up Ford will carry three and four. At this time manufacturers only have to confirm one driver for the whole 12-round season. Citroen has named Sebastien Loeb as car number one while Ford has given Mikko Hirvonen number three. The second car for each manufacturer will be allocated on an event-by-event basis, allowing the possibility of driver switches. For Rally Ireland Dani Sordo and Jari-Matti Latvala will carry numbers two and four respectively. So far three teams are registered for the eight-round Manufacturer Team (previously the M2) contest. The Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team has been allocated car numbers five and six, while the new Citroen Junior Team gets seven and eight. Numbers for the Adapta World Rally Team and Munchi’s World Rally Team are yet to be allocated. These, and any other teams, have until 1 March to register for the Manufacturer Teams competition.
