Subaru and Suzuki Quit the WRC and Honda Quits F1

When you think of WRX you think of Subaru. Things ain't right.
 
After witnessing the glorious specatcle of BDA Escorts and TC Chevettes and Sunbeams at full chat on the Colin McRae Stages, I yearn for the halcyon days of the 70s and early 80s - that was real rallying
 
If only we were in charge of the British Rally Championship and wrc things would be alot better than they are now.

Just hope come 2010 the new rules kick start rallying again.

Only good news at the moment is Kris Meeke has secured a Peugeot UK back drive in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge in a S2000 Peugeot 207 and the good news is Scotland is host a round in 2009:D.
 
very true yeah

remember Seat packed up from sports here saying they were looking at other things, i think they may have had an early indication of whats happening.

but then again even some of the sponsors are leaving to, not long back Rizza left the BSB so is having an effect on everyone
 
badgerbaiter said:
the way to cure the finincial problems of motorsport is to bring back tobacco sponsorship
simple as that
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Noooo, I'd start smoking again :eek:








Oops , forgot , although I watched Tobacco sponsored sports for years I never had the urge to start smoking. :shrug:

But when Durex sponsored motorcycle racing........;)
 
Audi are out of the le mans series too.

We can only hope the manufacturers come back in a couple of years when things start looking brighter, but for now spare a thought for the guys that work in the industry - the UK has quite a big motorsport industry, or rather, it did....
 
just found out about Subaru pulling out of the WRC, for me Subaru is the first thing i think of when i think of WRC, since im not that old :D, i was brought up watching the likes of Colin McRae in his Subaru, and have always been an avid Subaru fan. really gutted about this (i just got a Subaru jacket and havent had the chance to wear it yet)

if anyones interested here is the latest news about Subaru (not much revealed yet)

http://www.swrt.com/news/latest_news.html?id=1590

chris
 
badgerbaiter said:
the way to cure the finincial problems of motorsport is to bring back tobacco sponsorship
simple as that
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Had the same conversation with someone the other day, its the only thing that could save motorsport.


When you think of Subaru it was 555, Ford had Rothmans in the 70's and 80's, Mitsubishi and Marlboro.
 
Flash In The Pan said:
After witnessing the glorious specatcle of BDA Escorts and TC Chevettes and Sunbeams at full chat on the Colin McRae Stages, I yearn for the halcyon days of the 70s and early 80s - that was real rallying
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I'd have to agree with you there. Nothing like the sound of an Escort BDA at full chat. Made last Saturday worthwhile for me at Rockingham, in the pooring rain. No photos though as I was marshalling and outside the circuit making sure the cars got through the tunnel ok.:(
 
its a shame thateven the mighty Subaru with its history is pulling out. Its like maclaren/Ferrari pulling out of F1
 
You have to wonder just how bad things are for Subaru when £20 million is going to make a difference to them.

Having said that, both Subaru and Suzuki are part owned by General Motors, so that might have some bearing on this....
 
2009 will be a slow year for motorsport, and I agree with your group Gary so I joined. It could be the kick start that a lot of teams need to get back into competing.

Though lowering the cost of competing in a series would help tremendously too. I think it cost the privateers something in the region of £4000 just to enter the Wales Rally GB this year (!!)
 
whitey said:
very true yeah

remember Seat packed up from sports here saying they were looking at other things, i think they may have had an early indication of whats happening.

but then again even some of the sponsors are leaving to, not long back Rizza left the BSB so is having an effect on everyone
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I think you need to look more closely to what the company's where getting for there money BSB airtime was very poor unless you running in the top 3, which Rizzla bikes werent plus you needed Eurosport to see, or watch highlight coverage that was also poor unless at the very front.

Seat where only really racing against Vauxhall in the BTCC, and they have the market share in the Leon class of car, plenty cars for privateers to enter to keep the car on the track next, what more are they going to gain from BTCC?

Both Seat and Rizzla pulled out along time before the end of this years season. Long before any-one started predicting any down turn.



Interesting No Audi in Le-man series, id suspect Peugeot may well do the same then.

Also be interesting as to weather the DTM will actually run next year at this rate.

Oh the other thing is to think about is how much of the Suburu thing due to Dave Richards wanting to go F1, and does this leave him free to buy the Honda F1 team.
 
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I agree that before the new season kicks off for 2009 a few more teams will fall by the wayside. If sponsorship is not there for the cars to compete what does this do for those who photograph for the media/teams? There are so many attending the races/trackdays etc what happens when the competition is slowly being eroded away by lack of funds? People do this for a living :(
 
galadrin said:
If sponsorship is not there for the cars to compete what does this do for those who photograph for the media/teams? There are so many attending the races/trackdays etc what happens when the competition is slowly being eroded away by lack of funds? People do this for a living :(
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The whole country is going to hell in a handcart, people do a lot of things for a living, unfortunately motor sport and photography is just another casualty of the recession.
 
There are reports prodrive may run a customer team next year.

I disagree that btcc was SEAT vs Vauxhall, the Bmws were always a threat this year, especially in the wet. I think SEAT realised that race goers aren't their market, the "sporty" Cupra model of the new shape has pretty much been a flop, theres hardly any on the roads compared to (say) Focus ST, Astra VXR, even the previously incarnation (Cupra R) of the leon was more successful. The people I see driving Leons are typically families with a diesel, who aren't interested, I also think the SEAT sport operation was probably looked down on by VAG who don't really seem to engage in motorsport at all.
I don't have any figures but I'd guess the Focus is a bigger seller than the Leon, the Astra must be somewhere up there too.

If Toyota don't perform in 2009 the thinking is they will leave F1 too. With regulations changing in BTCC, WRC, F1 in the last couple of years and into the future and with that goes variable costs its understandable why some companies are bowing out. Maybe when cost cutting measures and complete and legislation settles down some companies may be more interested in competing
 
Craft said:
There are reports prodrive may run a customer team next year.

I disagree that btcc was SEAT vs Vauxhall, the Bmws were always a threat this year, especially in the wet. I think SEAT realised that race goers aren't their market, the "sporty" Cupra model of the new shape has pretty much been a flop, theres hardly any on the roads compared to (say) Focus ST, Astra VXR, even the previously incarnation (Cupra R) of the leon was more successful. The people I see driving Leons are typically families with a diesel, who aren't interested, I also think the SEAT sport operation was probably looked down on by VAG who don't really seem to engage in motorsport at all.
I don't have any figures but I'd guess the Focus is a bigger seller than the Leon, the Astra must be somewhere up there too.

If Toyota don't perform in 2009 the thinking is they will leave F1 too. With regulations changing in BTCC, WRC, F1 in the last couple of years and into the future and with that goes variable costs its understandable why some companies are bowing out. Maybe when cost cutting measures and complete and legislation settles down some companies may be more interested in competing
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There was something where the Cupra was out selling Golfs and the Audi A3, but being beaten by BMW's in the uk is another reason for them to be unhappy as the BMWs in the BTCC where privateers, Seat put there money WTCC for a world wide hit, against BMW Chevy etc. Whats the odds on Chevy pulling out of WTCC, or even VX from BTCC with the state GM is in.
 
russdaz said:
Oh the other thing is to think about is how much of the Suburu thing due to Dave Richards wanting to go F1, and does this leave him free to buy the Honda F1 team.
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Nothing to do with it, Dave Richards only runs the Subaru team using his Prodrive company but this decision came from Fuji Heavy Industries which owns Subaru.

Prodrive will not go into F1 at the moment and now they will consentrate on running privateer teams and looking after current customers as they have alot of money invested in rallying and racing.
 
Flash In The Pan said:
After witnessing the glorious specatcle of BDA Escorts and TC Chevettes and Sunbeams at full chat on the Colin McRae Stages, I yearn for the halcyon days of the 70s and early 80s - that was real rallying
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The engine sound of Lancia Stratos of Sandro Munari in the forests that is one my all time favorite memories
 
RogDen31 said:
The engine sound of Lancia Stratos of Sandro Munari in the forests that is one my all time favorite memories
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:)

Good man.

Lancia used to have Marlboro sponsorship in the early days of rally sponsorship, but changed to Martini (with a brief flirtation with Alitalia). Fags didn't work so they resorted to Drink. Afghan and Columbian Poppy farmers aren't the sort to give sponsorship deals.
 
i see all of these big teams pulling out at the moment as sort of 50/50, 50% due to the current financial climate and subsequent dip in sales and 50% manufacturers whos motorsport arm were not looking 'sucessful' and a reason to save face.


hope its not contagious though, or im ****ed
 
russdaz said:
There was something where the Cupra was out selling Golfs and the Audi A3, but being beaten by BMW's in the uk is another reason for them to be unhappy as the BMWs in the BTCC where privateers, Seat put there money WTCC for a world wide hit, against BMW Chevy etc. Whats the odds on Chevy pulling out of WTCC, or even VX from BTCC with the state GM is in.
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Yeah thats because everyone cottoned on to the fact that the leon was the same car for alot less money. Hence the current leon is dreadful inside, I reckon its done on purpose so people will turn their nose up and buy the golf/a3, the people on a budget or who aren't fussed carry on and buy the leon. I bought a leon cupra r (old shape) and it was a great car, the replacement just didn't do it for me.

Chevy may well pull out of the WTCC, in fact I woulnt be suprised to see chevy pull out of the UK altogether, the experiment hasn't really worked and the cars are pretty rubbish.
Vx out of BTCC ? well, maybe... they don't really need to be there for 2009 and will have the vectra replacement out next year, maybe they will race that when available and treat is as a development year ? Id say triple 8 have their hands full on that score.

I miss the BTCC of the early 90s when there was something like 10 manufacturers involved, cleland up on two wheels, david leslie in the cavalier, the lurid paint schemes of the renaults, soper in the BMW.. somehow I don't think we'll ever see it again.
 
33L said:
its a shame thateven the mighty Subaru with its history is pulling out. Its like maclaren/Ferrari pulling out of F1
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That might not be as far fetched as you think, remember is Mercedes/McLaren and it's Chrysler who own Mercedes
 
Craft said:
Yeah thats because everyone cottoned on to the fact that the leon was the same car for alot less money. Hence the current leon is dreadful inside, I reckon its done on purpose so people will turn their nose up and buy the golf/a3, the people on a budget or who aren't fussed carry on and buy the leon. I bought a leon cupra r (old shape) and it was a great car, the replacement just didn't do it for me.
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I think that was always the case - the Leon having an inferior interior. They may have used the same components as the A3, but you could definitely tell you were not in an Audi (or VW). I looked at the (old shape) Leon, Golf and A3 all in the same day, as I was interested in buying one. In the end, I didn't buy any of them, and got a Mazda RX8 instead. I think the problem nowadays is that the price of the Cupra has gone up and up over the years, and it's now not economical to buy a Leon over a Golf. Or that was the case about 2 years ago, when I last changed my car.
 
Craft said:
I miss the BTCC of the early 90s when there was something like 10 manufacturers involved, cleland up on two wheels, david leslie in the cavalier, the lurid paint schemes of the renaults, soper in the BMW.. somehow I don't think we'll ever see it again.
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Cleland v Soper at Silverstone, fantastic race never get sick of watching it, and Murrays commentary is ace. :clap:
 
Craft said:
Yeah thats because everyone cottoned on to the fact that the leon was the same car for alot less money. Hence the current leon is dreadful inside, I reckon its done on purpose so people will turn their nose up and buy the golf/a3, the people on a budget or who aren't fussed carry on and buy the leon. I bought a leon cupra r (old shape) and it was a great car, the replacement just didn't do it for me.

Chevy may well pull out of the WTCC, in fact I woulnt be suprised to see chevy pull out of the UK altogether, the experiment hasn't really worked and the cars are pretty rubbish.
Vx out of BTCC ? well, maybe... they don't really need to be there for 2009 and will have the vectra replacement out next year, maybe they will race that when available and treat is as a development year ? Id say triple 8 have their hands full on that score.

I miss the BTCC of the early 90s when there was something like 10 manufacturers involved, cleland up on two wheels, david leslie in the cavalier, the lurid paint schemes of the renaults, soper in the BMW.. somehow I don't think we'll ever see it again.
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Agree with all that, 2009 will not be the same, maybe in a year or two there'll all be back to repromote there cars.

dseered said:
There go Ducati from BSB, blaming team making issues though so maybe right, I don't know enough about it really !
http://www.bikesportnews.com/articl..._UK_PULL_OUT_OF_BRITISH_SUPERBIKES_FOR_2009_1
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I think its more of the case that no-one can actually afford to run the Ducati's with GSE being the best funded team switching to factory Yahama from what i have heard from people around the sport Corse charge a small fortune, same say around double the cost of some other bikes.
 
i think they should bring back the racing of group B cars, and let 'specials' be run again, because the next motorsport season, cars like Andy Burton's peugeot cosworth can't be run iirc!
Get more endurance events going aswell, more oppertunities for novices to get involved in motorsport!

Dion!
 
After speaking with Plato's media manager at Rally GB this year, SEAT decided to drop out because they had "achieved all of their goals that they had set for BTCC"

Make of that what you will.
 
badgerbaiter said:
if anyone wants to take my bet, i'll bet 50p that teams will be allowed 3 cars in f1 in 09
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Yeah most likely, but who will have the money to run three cars?

Rumours are Williams are going to axe there test team,
 
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