Alfa Romeo to bow out after Macau.

Alfa Romeo have confirmed that they will be bowing out of the World Touring Car Championship following next weekend's final race in Macau, albeit with a potential view to entering again in 2007.

The news comes as the Italian team gear up for a final push for the drivers title with Fabrizio Giovanardi in a tense battle with BMW rivals Andy Priaulx and Dirk Muller to become world champion.

Rumours that Alfa Romeo will not renew its participation with the championship surfaced some time ago when the manufacturer claimed that they were unsure they wanted the replacement for the 156, the 159, to race. However, it was thought they would develop the smaller 147 and downsize to a two-car team.

Nonetheless, the delaying of Alfa Romeos commitment means that the team will be unable to develop any car before the beginning of next year and so have decided to take a sabbatical.

"Racing keeps being part of the Alfa culture, but we are taking one year off in order to decide how to race in the future and with what car," brand manager Antonio Baravalle said to Gazzetta dello Sport.

By returning in 2007, it is likely that Alfa Romeo may move down to the forthcoming 149 which is due to be unveiled by the end of next year, although the team claim that they may still plough their resources into a privateer team next year so as to maintain a presence in the championship.

However, the announcement late in the season leaves Giovanardi, Gabriele Tarquini, Augusto Farfus and James Thompson without a drive for next year and with several teams having confirmed their line-ups for next year, all four could find themselves out in the cold in 2006.

Alfa Romeo have a very successful motorsport heritage, winning titles in Britain, Italy and the DTM in the 1990s, while they also have three European titles to their name. However, while they are still in the running for this year's first World title, arch-rivals BMW hold a significant lead in the manufacturers' championship.