VW's are ahead by a mile, Audi and Peugeot might be closer to each others and they would have to invest so freaking much money to even get to VW level. but privateers, guys running last years cars are no where to seen. I personally don't see why any privateer driver would spend that kind of a money to drive practices and first heats to be dropped out of semis, getting no publicity and wasting all their monies for just 40km's of track time or do they even get that?
There is almost always the same guys in the finals (both VW's, maybe Audis and Peugeot unless Bakkerud gets there by miracle) and these are the only guys who are getting any publicity out of the event.
When you pay big money to drive the whole season to not get semis or further when manufacturer teams are not step ahead but 5 steps ahead. Yes there is a money problem. Wouldn't be surprised that WRX is going to lose its spark after couple of years, maybe even after this year.