Subaru withdraws from WRC
December 17, 2008 by Matt Brogan
It seems car manufacturers are really struggling under the current economic downturn and Subaru is no exception having this morning announced its decision to withdraw from the 2009 World Rally Championship.
After more than 20 years in the sport, during which time the Prodrive-run Subaru World Rally Team has won six World Rally Championship titles, the news is not only devastating to Subaru themselves, but to the millions of rallying fans around the world.
“Subaru’s departure from the World Rally Championship is a great loss as it is one of the sport’s icons.” Prodrive chairman David Richards said, ” The Subaru World Rally Team has created true champions such as Colin McRae and Richard Burns and its absence will be felt by many the world over. Although this decision closes a significant chapter in Prodrive’s history, our focus now turns to the future”.
For many, Prodrive and Subaru are synonymous, given the long-standing and close association between the two companies. However, while the Subaru World Rally Team historically represented a significant part of Prodrive’s business, today it accounts for no more than 20 per cent of the company’s turnover.
Despite the current economic downturn however, Prodrive’s automotive engineering business remains buoyant as it works with vehicle manufacturers to accelerate the development of next generation fuel-efficient vehicles and alternative fuel technologies.
Together with Subaru, Prodrive’s commitment to its customer rally teams will also continue unabated for 2009 and beyond. Over the past 15 years, Prodrive has sold close to 500 rally cars to more than 400 private competitors and independent rally teams in 47 countries.
During this time, Prodrive’s customers have won five consecutive Production World Rally Championships and countless international rallies. In 2008, Prodrive-supported customer teams have claimed eight rally championship titles around the world.
Looking ahead, 2010 will see the introduction of new World Rally Championship technical regulations, which provide Prodrive with an opportunity to prepare for re-entering the championship with a new team and build on its 24 years of World Rally Championship experience and success.
Print it: 
I was thinking that maybe this was an opportunity to withdrawal (using the financial crisis as an excuse) before the new regulations come in.
SHOCK ANNOUNCEMENT
This devoted WRC fan announces waning interest WRC.
Negotiations with devotee management have revealed rumors of quiting the sport and it is hoped that an ongoing interest in the sport will be retained for the 2009 and future seasons.
Interesting times…
these worldwide F1 and rallying circuses must engulf hundreds of millions of dollars from companies like Subaru.
As much as I hate to see subaru leave, I can understand that the business case simply doesn’t stack up.
I bet it was a hard decision though. Back in the MY99-MY04 days, the whole impreza range was styled “up” to look like the WRX. Rallying was really a key part of the Impreza’s image
As reported earlier, this devoted WRC fan is rumoured to be quitting an interest in WRC.
Sources can now reveal the devotee’s management is considering anger and disillusionment leading to sorrow against subaru for apparent dilution of his interest in the sport and possibly the brand altogether. Negotiations may come to a head if the emotion proceeds as the manufacturer and dis-interested party will likely have to meet in Paris this week to formulate a counter measure before irreversible and serious damage to his interest in the sport and brand occurs.
It can be confirmed however that a return to a former passion for the devotee, of F1 has been ruled out as F1 is currently enduring a spate of similar interest cutting measures.
the video games will never be the same again…
A real shame.
I dont undertand, does that mean, no sti’s next year at all, or just the prodrive backed cars?? I dont think subaru would of spent all that money on the new my09 sti hatch, to not even use it!!
Obviously a behind the scenes plot by Toyota after increasing their shares in Subaru to eliminate the competition.
Im afraid this doesnt look good for Chris Atkinson, unless he has some sponsorship money to take to one of the Ford teams or a Citroen satellite team then he may be out of a drive. But the thing is he was faster than Petter Solberg and Danny Sordo all year until the new impreza came along then was still competetive. Deserves a chance he has earned it.
This creates opportunity for another smaller maker do do exactly what Subaru did.
Make a great car, race it, and sell heaps (eventually… when this “thing” is over/subsided…!)
I can’t help but feel that rally has had the best “win on sunday, sell on monday” factor- over F1 and V8s methinks.
Question is- who can/will do this?
Tom
“Although this decision closes a significant chapter in Prodrive’s history, our **FOCUS** now turns to the future”.
Freudian slip maybe?
I can live on planet without US car manufacturers, make no mistake.
I believe they represent everything about car manufacturing in the way george bush represents inept foreign and local policy. But, WRC without the blue will not be right.
I want to congratulate Subaru for their commitment, shear tenacity and perseverance over the last 5 difficult years in WRC. Not withstanding of course, their successes in the ninties early noughties with mcrae, burns & solberg. Sadly, the sport will suffer. Without competition there is no competition
Good luck to Chris with finding a drive and thank you Subaru for all the hits.
WVB: Mate, I could not have put it better myself. It is such a shame to lose a team like Subaru in this sport. The sport will slowly die, and that is really sad. Good luck to Chris and Petter, but thank you to Subaru, who even though won’t be in WRC, still have a supporter within me.
BTW: Anti-S
WVB: Mate, I could not have put it better myself. It is such a shame to lose a team like Subaru in this sport. The sport will slowly die, and that is really sad. Good luck to Chris and Petter, but thank you to Subaru for all of the memories. I’ll still buy Subaru’s no matter what! (On my 4th)
What is going on. Double post??
First mitsubishi evo and now the subaru impreza? what next?
It’s a real shame…
I hope subaru’s not gonna stop making/improving the impreza even though they left WRC.
J & H Says:
December 17th, 2008 at 10:51 am
the video games will never be the same again…
What video games? as far as i know, there hasnt been a WRC licenced game in years… all we get are the sega rallys and the colin mcraes etc.
I pray for the day i can a buy a full WRC approved hi def rally game for the ps3….
and you would think that if Subaru felt the pressure to give it up, a lot of other manufacturers would be feeling the same pressure.
Thus, an obvious cost cut would be to not have rallys in non european places like argentina places like, sigh… Australia/New Zealand.
lets hope it actually gets here…
’tis a shame. Now they will only be able to advertise on a rally ‘heritage’. Which has as much meaning as Volvo claiming it has a rally heritage. In either case, not a lie, but meaningless to the current batch of cars being sold.