WRC: Subaru follows Suzuki out

[andartop]

So, who's next? Citroen? Is it going to be an all-Ford Championship next year? Where is Solberg going to go? And does anyone care anymore?

[joseff]

IMO Ford will quit before Citroen does. There are rumors that the US bailout may force the automakers from racing, leaving WRC with just Citroen and NASCAR with just Toyota.

Solberg will likely retire, but I for one would welcome the arrival of him and Sebastien Loeb in F1 [-o<

[DaveKillens]

Interesting, yet also distressing, that both Formula One and WRC are goverened by the FIA, and both are facing hardships.

[roost89]

IMO Ford will quit before Citroen does. There are rumors that the US bailout may force the automakers from racing, leaving WRC with just Citroen and NASCAR with just Toyota.

Solberg will likely retire, but I for one would welcome the arrival of him and Sebastien Loeb in F1 [-o<

I read that Ford are in for 2009, after that I think they may pull out unless there's more competition. I hope it doesn't come to just a 1-make series! WRC isn't managed well as it is, it doesn't need this to hinder it!

I didn't see Subaru pulling out at all, where are David Richards and ProDrive going? They've pulled out of WRC, that doesn't leave them with many racing opportunities left. Le Mans (Aston Martin) and FPR in Aussie V8's.

Interesting, yet also distressing, that both Formula One and WRC are goverened by the FIA, and both are facing hardships.

+1
Who else is facing the axe?

[andartop]

Well, I guess this is what you get if you keep changing the rules/regulations every now and then. Any manufacturer would need stability first in order to invest all the millions to develop a car. Subaru only introduced the new Impreza last year, and now they hear the cars are going to be completely different from 2010 onwards, and they CANNOT use their new car as a base to develop the 2010 contender... I don't think this has ANYTHING at all to do with current global economic crisis, I think it's 100% FIA's fault the WRC is dying..

[donskar]

Well, I guess this is what you get if you keep changing the rules/regulations every now and then. Any manufacturer would need stability first in order to invest all the millions to develop a car. Subaru only introduced the new Impreza last year, and now they hear the cars are going to be completely different from 2010 onwards, and they CANNOT use their new car as a base to develop the 2010 contender... I don't think this has ANYTHING at all to do with current global economic crisis, I think it's 100% FIA's fault the WRC is dying..

Very good comment and very apropos of the situation in F1.

[pipex]

It seems that the FIA will kill all the categories of motorsport under their control. Well done Max...

Bad rules + global crisis = Apocalypsis

[andartop]

It's just so sad for Subaru WRT.. they have been supporting the WRC for so long, it feels like McLaren or Williams are quiting F1. If one only considers how many people got into the WRC in the first place because of Subaru and Colin McRae (and playstation!).. it's an absolute tragedy.
It's also a great pity for P.Solberg, the guy is obviously one of the best current drivers and he's left high and dry, only one month before the start of the new season. I just wish he gets into a private team and still participates next year in view of 2010, when new teams (hopefully) will enter (Fiat, Peugeot, VW?)..
Otherwise it will be like watching a whole season like the 2005 F1 Indianapolis GP!!!

[joseff]

Is there a chance Prodrive could still run the 2008 Imprezas? They must already have all the parts they need.

Or run Suzukis? Suzuki has promised "support" to privateers.

[mx_tifoso]

Ikuo Mori, president of Fuji Heavy Industries:

"We have achieved our initial objective to improve the brand recognition and given the unprecedented economic deterioration, it was necessary to review our investments, these are the main reasons (for the withdrawal).

The possibility of a Subaru car back in the top category of the WRC in the future is not zero, however for this moment there can be no assumption of a comeback. (But) if we can be allowed, we want to continue - especially for the fans."

[West]

Audi are not going to run in the ALMS w/ the exception of the 12 Hours of Sebring. Now racing dropouts are common.

Considering we are in a depression... racing looks like an elitist's activity more than ever.

[donskar]

West, it's hard to argue with you on:

Considering we are in a depression... racing looks like an elitist's activity more than ever.

It's simple (famous last words!.) racing has to show sponsors -- whether auto manufacturers or breweries -- that racing is a cost-effective way to market their products. Some of the data they need is already there: LOTS of "eyeballs," evidence that race fans support sponsors (NASCAR has some powerful figures on that point), minutes of TV exposure times number of viewers, square inches of print media times number of readers, etc, etc.

We have no way of knowing whether the evidence is strong enough to make a case. When I was at Compaq, it was relatively easy to see the rationale for sponsoring Williams, so I think the case can be made today as well as it was then. BUT I doubt if Spanky or Hugestones or anyone else in the upper reaches of F1 mis-management have the skills to make the necessary pitch today.

[donskar]

IMO Ford will quit before Citroen does. There are rumors that the US bailout may force the automakers from racing, leaving WRC with just Citroen and NASCAR with just Toyota.

Solberg will likely retire, but I for one would welcome the arrival of him and Sebastien Loeb in F1 [-o<

Looks like Chrysler will stay in NASCAR (and they'll have an all-new V8):

Chrysler will stay in NASCAR
CHICAGO (Reuters) -- Chrysler LLC will not abandon the NASCAR racing circuit but will reduce spending, a top executive said today.
Mike Accavitti, director of Chrysler's Dodge brand and motorsports, said the automaker would not end its involvement with the sport. "We are going to throttle back," he told Reuters. "NASCAR is not exempt from anything else that we do to market and promote vehicles.