Novikov to miss 2010 WRC season

Dale Moscatt's former driver, Russian teenager Evgeny Novikov, looks set to miss the 2010 WRC due to a lack of funds.

Novikov drove for the Citroen Junior Team this year and relied on funding from Citroen Russia for the last WRC event he contested in Spain. He did not contest the final round, Rally GB, when a budget could not be found.

Aussie co-driver Moscatt parted ways with the young Russian after Rally Finland, citing too many crashes as his reason for giving up a dream ride in the WRC. Novikov then competed on the IRC Barum Rally in August driving a Skoda Fabia S2000 where he again crashed.

"Due to lack of funding in 2010 and having financial difficulties now, it was decided not to go to Rally Great Britain," Novikov told autosport.com. "For the same reasons, I have to take a break and will not act next year.

"The IRC is interesting, but less so than the WRC. I have no offer for the IRC and I have absolutely nothing for the WRC," he added.

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