It is a sad day when one of the WRC greats pulls out from next year’s championship. Just like Honda who recently announced their decision to leave F1 in order to cope with the global economic crisis, Fuji Heavy Industries, the parent company of Subaru, is the next to fall.
When we consider that Honda ran the 2007 and 2008 seasons without any sponsors, running their ‘Earth Dreams’ car the manufacturer must really have been hard hit by the economic crisis to decide to pull out this year, having run much higher costs than their competitors the previous years. The FIA recently announced a cost cutting decision with the key components set at savings on engine costs, a ban on in-season testing outside of race weekends, and a reduction in staff numbers, as well as more changes as the years go by. All this will reduce the racing budgets by an estimated 30%. All this seems to move in the direction of making the sport less of an onus to manufacturers promoting stability.
Prodrive chairman David Richards, Subaru’s Ralley partners stated “Subaru’s departure from the World Rally Championship is a great loss as it is one of the sport’s icons. 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.”
Suzuki also cancelled their entry into next year’s championship a couple of days ago, leaving only Ford and Citroen as the only manufacturers fielding factory teams. Whilst Subaru has not ruled out a return to WRC next year could be a bad year for fans with less competition across the field.
I read the news every morning awaiting the next casualty from the global economic crisis. Unfortunaltely motorsport has been hard hit so far and it will definitely be hit even harder if things keep going the way they are.
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
FHI to withdraw from FIA WRC after 2008 season
Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the maker of Subaru automobiles, today announced the withdrawal from the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) at the end of the 2008 season.
FHI has participated in the WRC together with Prodrive, a motorsports and automotive engineering group in the UK, over the past 19 years to pursue its goal and philosophy in motor sports activities to enhance Subaru brand awareness by showing that Subaru vehicles offer safe, comfortable and pleasurable driving no matter the weather or road conditions, featuring Horizontally-Opposed engine and the Symmetrical All-Wheel drive system as its core technologies, and to transfer results of race-tested technical improvements into Subaru passenger vehicles.
Subaru has won three manufacturer’s championship titles and three driver’s championship titles in its history of rally racing. This has helped enhance the value of the Subaru brand as well as the sales expansion of Subaru vehicles all over the world.
FHI considers it has achieved its original target in WRC participation. However, while considering positioning the WRC activity in Subaru branding strategy towards the future, our business environment has been dramatically changed due to the quick deterioration of the global economy. In order to optimize the management resources and to strengthen further the Subaru brand, FHI decided to withdraw from WRC activities at the earliest timing.
As regards future involvement in rally activities, FHI will continue to support teams and drivers that participate in P-WRC or the Group N category.
President Mori commented that reaching this decision has been an extremely difficult task, not least with regards to the countless Subaru fans that for many years have cheered the legendary Subaru blue liveried Impreza World Rally Car; “We would like to express our sincere appreciation for our fans’ strong and loyal support worldwide. They will remain an invaluable treasure for us.”
Capitalizing on the priceless experience gained throughout the history in the WRC field, FHI will continue to offer Subaru customers products that integrate sheer excitement, safe, comfortable and reliable driving, respect of the global environment and peace of mind based on its philosophy of “Customer comes first.”
