Subaru pull out of WRC

[Mr Nice Guy]

Suzuki the other day, not too big a deal ...but Subaru have pulled the plug today...

Sad day for sure.

https://image.sportcompactcarweb.com/f/editorials/colin-mcrae-and-son-tragic-helicopter-crash/7161277+w575+cr1+re0+ar1/colin-mcrae-subaru-impreza-wrc.jpg

What's next to go?

I'll be amazed if bike racing doesn't take a hit at some point...
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Suzuki GSX-R750K4 ~ Mivv GP

[Azonicben]

Gutted

With all this credit crunch malarky the bikes will be the next hit, as will all forms of fun, all these big companies tightening their belts.
If your looking at your companies balance sheet trying to cut back, the X amount of £s spent sponsoring that BSB WSB etc team will be the first cutback.
Although the current state is very commercial and lucrative, this may well be its own downfall, cash is king and has to come from somewhere.
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Cbt-23/09/07.....Theory-16/09/08.....Das passed 10/10/08.....
Current bike- GsxR750 K4. Broken: Cbr400rr (Nc29) Sold: Hyosung GT125R

[Kickstart]

Hi

Already hitting bikes:-

Honda quit AMA superbikes

No factory Ducatis in BSB

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[owdamer]

[amnesia]

MCN last week were reporting that HRC were reviewing their MotoGP involvement as providing 6 bikes is a big undertaking. Obviously take this with a MVCN sized amount of salt.

Suzuki's BSB team were only showing 1 rider (Guintoli) when I last looked at the BSB site. Any teams with un-announced riders were showing question marks...the Rizla team sheet was not. Maybe money related, or just an admin error on the website.
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[Mr Nice Guy]

Haven't Rizla pulled out of bike sponsorship?
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Suzuki GSX-R750K4 ~ Mivv GP

[owdamer]

[Skudd]

Soon it will be PUCH, Norton, Peugeot and Kawazaki in MotoGP.
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Famous last words of Humpty Dumpty. " Stop pushing me "
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[owdamer]

[The Shaggy D.A.]

I might watch it then
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[Kickstart]

Hi

Less money thrown at racing might be better. Sure development might slow but not sure that would make the racing worse, while with less money we might get more characters showing through.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Fahd]

End of an era...

https://www.forocompeticion.com/galeria/albums/userpics/10009/mcrae%20079-Korsika98.jpg

https://robson.m3rlin.org/cars/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/subaru_impreza_wrc_2001_11_m-copy.jpg

https://www.cycloneinjapan.com/upload/files/1/subaru_impreza_wrc_rally_car_07.jpg
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I Ride: Honda CBR 400RR.
I Drive: Audi S3.

[Whosthedaddy]

A pictorial history of the models in the WRC starting with the Legacy.

https://www.subaru-msm.com/global/history/car/index.html

Shame some big names are pulling out of major motorsports.

[amnesia]

[Silver]

[AJI]

It's a real pity Subaru are pulling out. It was bad enough when Mitsubishi suddenly disappeared to the back of the field with the Evo VII and losing Makinen from the team.

Maybe we need a return to the closer-to-production nature of the early 90s in WRC, the era that actually gave us staggeringly good road cars like the Delta Integrale, Escort Cosworth and Impreza Turbo in the first place - when the performance of those cars was genuinely special and up with the supercars of the time.

In other motorsport BTCC has been hit hard too with SEAT leaving. Another pity, given the BTCCs gradual resergence after it looked very sorry indeed around 2001-2004 ish.

I haven't watched the WRC much recently (no Brit drivers worth talking about after the tragedies of McRae and Burns) so I can't say losing Subaru affects me personally, but as someone who's followed the sport since the early Colin McRae days and worshipped the Impreza as a kid, it's a massive loss for the sport. The 94-96 Impreza 555 will always be one of the top rally cars ever as far as I'm concerned.

https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b195/homeforsummer/2814737013_9f1900bf39_b.jpg
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[Azonicben]

L555BAT the best
What really gets me is the fact that subaru/Fhi whichever you prefer, were the only manufacturer in the WRC who actually made a road going turbocharged 4wd car, all the others are FWD hatches some even without a "hot" road going model.
Subaru spent a forutne on the new ugly impreza to be competative in the WRC following the trend of smaller compact wheelbase hatchbacks, but 2009 would be the final year it could run with the new "super" regulations coming in. Tranverse engines only, being one of the biggies.
Theve said there going to return in 2010 IIRC probably with another newer uglyer car, but subaru have i think packed there bags for the time being, with the new impreza they were aiming to get away from the rally slag image to try and break into the rep-mobile market. so it looks like the only true manufacturer of rally homologation specials have fecked up royally

On a better note, there are rumors that prodrive may try and field a team, and there some swedish bloke too
____________________
Cbt-23/09/07.....Theory-16/09/08.....Das passed 10/10/08.....
Current bike- GsxR750 K4. Broken: Cbr400rr (Nc29) Sold: Hyosung GT125R

[NSR Mick]

[Azonicben]

Yea i discounted the Evo, as they arn`t currently fielding a team,
subaru were guily of some crappy basic models but i think they were generally intended for farmer giles, lets not forget thats were it all started
and as its the old subaru/evo is better debate

















Everyone knows Subarus are better
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Cbt-23/09/07.....Theory-16/09/08.....Das passed 10/10/08.....
Current bike- GsxR750 K4. Broken: Cbr400rr (Nc29) Sold: Hyosung GT125R

[Moonie]

I'll be expecting to have even more competition for mechanical jobs now then, Prodrive being based in Banbury and about to go under
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Don't practice it until you get it right, practice it until you don't get it wrong.
Presenting the one and only Chinkmobile

[Azonicben]

Prodrive going under? WRC was about 20% of there engineering business, DR has said That They will be looking at moving into F1 now.
F1 is loads cheaper than rallying
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Cbt-23/09/07.....Theory-16/09/08.....Das passed 10/10/08.....
Current bike- GsxR750 K4. Broken: Cbr400rr (Nc29) Sold: Hyosung GT125R

[Moonie]

Meh, only what I heard from an employee's son.

suits me fine, means I have a better chance of getting a decent job.
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Don't practice it until you get it right, practice it until you don't get it wrong.
Presenting the one and only Chinkmobile

[Mr Nice Guy]

[Moonie]

Pwnd.

Ever seen a Lancer?

Softer than your nan's fresh washing.
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Don't practice it until you get it right, practice it until you don't get it wrong.
Presenting the one and only Chinkmobile

[Fortuna]

There is strong speculation that ProDrive (the ones who run the Subaru WRC team) pulled out to enter F1 and buy the old Honda team.