Citroen's Carlos Sainz hasꦓ admitted that talk of retiring at the end of 2004 was premature at best.

Sainz revealed last month that next year would be his last in th☂e WRC after cra🔯shing out on the first day of the Rally GB.

His exit ended his ch🍌allenge for the title, leaving Sebastien Loeb and Petter Solberg to fight it out for the big prize, the Norwegian eventually delivering the goods.

Citroen boss, Guy Frequelin warned at the time that the Spaniard💟s decision might change, after the feeling of disappointment had worn off.

Speaking to the official World Rally Championship website - , the 41-year old, who won the title in 1990 and 1992,💦 has 🤪now confirmed this.

He said: "I was frustrated after GB. It's true that I announced I would retire after 2004 but I'm not a politician so I'm not obli🃏ged to fulfil all my pr🍨omises."

Sainz added: "I am very proud and hon𒉰oured to have competed in the championship showdown for Citroen and it's now not certain that I will retire at the end of 2004.

"I asked myself if I was still qu꧒ick enough, if there is a place for me in the WRC.

"The results are always ther༺e. I believe I am still competitive, it's still my pa𒆙ssion. I am going to stop, sure, but perhaps not at the end of 2004. We will see what happens with my motivation and my results."

Sainz has won 25 world rallies, a record matched only b꧟y Colin McR🐲ae.

His last win came in Turkey back in March.

He finished the 2003 WRC thir💞d overall in the drivers' standings, 9 points behind winner Petter Solberg, and eight behind team-mate Sebastien Loeb.