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Post by FordTeamRS on Dec 16, 2008 3:16:24 GMT
Also Prodrive is one of the names tossed around in purchasing the Honda F1 team, whether or not this affects Subaru WRC involvement is a separate issue. Interesting to note that Citroen/Peugeot through the PSA group have been strongly linked with perhaps buying out the team with the assistance of the French government.
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Post by Vivski on Dec 16, 2008 8:07:09 GMT
PSA to buy SWRT? That would be a turn-up for the books! It's a bit of a shock to think there would be no Subaru next season. And yes, visit Australia, Subaru is a very popular brand here... probably because they make very good cars. In Melbourne you see more Holden, Ford and Toyota but Subaru is close behind. And in Tasmania... never seen so many Brumbys in my life!
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Post by Mixa on Dec 16, 2008 8:40:19 GMT
Subaru has a press conference at the early morning. Everyone is expecting that them tells to withdrawn from WRC but well see. I will translate the news later on but it tells mostly the same what I already told without the F1 links.
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Post by Hurricane on Dec 16, 2008 9:52:39 GMT
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Post by chrisfinch on Dec 16, 2008 12:10:10 GMT
I'm shocked at the news, but not surprised, if you get me Rallying is an extremely expensive business, and although the technological develpment may not be as expensive as F1, the general "Rally" costs would probably be more than a F1 race. For example, in F1 a team flies in and sets up base at the circuit, which is similar to the WRC. But then there is everything else. Recce, shakedown, stages hundreds of miles apart so lots of money spent on fuel. There is also the ridiculous complexities of some of the rules in WRC. Windows too thin or too thick anybody And with the S2000 formula seemingly not far from taking over the WRC era of cars, 2009 may seem fairly pointless for manufacturers. At the end of the day, it is a sad couple of days for the WRC. Suzuki were brought in with lots of build up and after a pretty poor start, turned it round a bit towards the end of the season but that has all been for nothing now. And I'm sure for many people my age, and for the casual fan, nothing envisaged rallying quite like that distinctive blue and yellow Impreza flying about the stages, being driven by names like McRae, Burns and Solberg. The end of an era, for sure. It won't be the end of the WRC, it survived in 2006 with only two manufacturers although the situation has changed this time. Common sense says there are lots of Imprezas, Xsaras, 307s etc. for use by privateers, but again with the credit crunch. Will people like Wilks, Bengue, Stohl, Duval etc. continually be able to fund these drives without major backing? Probably not. I'd imagine Citroen and Ford to be pretty safe bets to be around in 2009, but then 48 hours ago, I'd have thought Subaru weren't going anywhere.
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Post by Vivski on Dec 16, 2008 14:02:57 GMT
With SWRT gone, does that bury Adapta as well? Petter/Ostberg anyone?
It would be weird to see a WRC with Henning and no Petter!
I guess we'll have to wait and see what the fallout is when the dust settles over the coming weeks.
Does this open the door for a SRTA to run a 2 car team with Atkinson and Crocker in the ARC?
Both Petter and Chris are tied so closely to Subaru, particularly financially. It's hard to see Atkinson raising the funds to take to another manufacturer.
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Post by mbmz3 on Dec 16, 2008 15:11:54 GMT
I'm so bummed. I've been following rallying since the 60's (yes I'm that old). I love watching cars driving slideways. With the lack of coverage in the US, I guess my days of following rallying is over. Hopefully rallying will get back to its roots one day.
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Post by Will on Dec 16, 2008 17:16:36 GMT
Wha...
what
what
wwwwat
no
this isn't happening
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Post by FordTeamRS on Dec 17, 2008 2:10:40 GMT
Not cool. However manufacturers dropping like flies in series across the world is something inevitable I suppose, even Audi pulled out of American Le Mans despite absolutely decimating the competition over the years. Subaru I guess can't really shout incredible results the last few years either. I can see them making a comeback in the future, but I hope it isn't a half-hearted attempt like what Mitsubishi attempted a few years ago either. And on that note, Mitsubishi making a comeback doesn't look likely either.
As for Petter and Chris, I could see them ending up at Stobart or yet another Ford aligned team. I don't care where they end up though, they deserve a top seat in a proper rally car. So much for Petter's loyalty I suppose.
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sarah
Chief Marshall
Posts: 79
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Post by sarah on Dec 17, 2008 3:33:44 GMT
Ford remain committed to WRC in a statement made following Subaru's depature, and the Adapta WRT with Mads Ostberg are unaffected and committed to running next year (according to a Norwegian website vg.no) - there is also talk of a seat open in the Adapta team for Petter. Linky: www.rallybuzz.com/adapta-wrt-petter-solberg-2009/
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mikew
Spectator
Posts: 13
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Post by mikew on Dec 17, 2008 4:43:22 GMT
I wouldn't be surprised to see Chris at Ford, there was talk of him going there before and he was able to get funding to run the first two years at Subaru so he may be able to call on that again to get a drive at Ford.
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Post by Will on Dec 17, 2008 7:54:21 GMT
Did Munchi's Ford quit too last season?
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sarah
Chief Marshall
Posts: 79
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Post by sarah on Dec 17, 2008 10:37:32 GMT
No, I'm pretty sure they're continuing. I remember reading somewhere...
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Post by Nick McRae on Dec 17, 2008 11:09:51 GMT
Munchi's will return in Cyprus, the second driver is yet to be confirmed.
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Post by Will on Dec 17, 2008 21:58:08 GMT
I bet the Rally Australia organizers will be spewing their guts
- No Subaru - No Atkinson - Two manufacturers (and is Citroen that big down under?)
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