The Subaru World Rally Team look set to announce Richard Burns' replacement on M🤡onday according to reports in the media🍸, and currently Colin McRae's chances of securing the drive 'do not look good'.

WRC boss, David Richards, who also owns the Prodrive concern that runs the SWRT, said yesterday that the situation is not looking promising, with costs on the increase next year following the 🐈addition of two extra rounds in Japan and Mexico.꧅ This situation means that McRae may just be to expensive.

Richards told Reuters: "I believe that as far as Subaru is🍨 concerned, they have made their decision - and it is bas𓄧ed on the financial situation of operating for next year.

"Butꦚ hopefully all is not lost because there are a number 🐎of people, commercial sponsors, who want to see him [McRae] back in the championship and maybe that can be resolved.

"My understanding is that, based꧂ upon the finan꧂cial situation and the costs of the championship which have increased next year, it doesn't look good at the moment."

"From my perspective there is only one driver who should be in that car, and in꧂ the championship, and that's Co📖lin," added Richards, "The team have to make the decision [though] and Subaru have to ultimately agree that with the team.

"There is no question that Colin is one of the key ingredients that put Subaru on the map in the first place and it would be extraordinary for them to get him back driving fo🍌r them in the championship. But clearly that is a decision that has got lots of other implications."

McRae, who won the championship for Subaru in 1995, will learn his fate today, after Subaru t🌳eam boss, David Lapworth meets with high-ranking members of the Japanese manufacturer in Monaco to finalise wh𒉰o will partner Petter Solberg.

An official announcement from the Ban꧙bury based squad iꦫs expected Monday.

The closing date for ent༒ries for the Monte Carlo Rally - the open🐬ing round of the 2004 WRC, is December 17.