Filed under: Motorsports, Subaru
Officially official: Subaru leaving World Rally Championship
Click above to view Subaru's 2008 WRC car in our high-resolution image gallery
Rally fans who were troubled by the rumors yesterday that Subaru was preparing to do the unthinkable and scrap its WRC team will be disappointed to learn that the speculation has proven to be true, as parent company Fuji Heavy Industries has announced it is pulling its participation effective immediately.
Not unlike its fellow Japanese automaker Honda, which has canceled its Formula One program, Fuji Heavy points to cost-cutting measures amidst the current global economic crisis as its reason for canceling its motorsport program. Still, it's a shocking move for the automaker that earned its reputation on the rally circuit, even if they haven't won a single stage since 2005. The move also means that Prodrive, the racing consultancy firm that has operated the Subaru WRC team for over 20 years, will need to find a new partner for next season and beyond as the WRC moves ahead with new regulations. But Prodrive may find the rally circuit a lonely place after Suzuki also canceled its participation, leaving Ford and Citroen as the only manufacturers fielding factory teams in the top level of rallying. Follow the jump for the official press release.
Gallery: Subaru Impreza WRC2008
Gallery: Subaru WRC2008 Race Debut
PRESS RELEASE
FHI to withdraw from FIA WRC after 2008 season
Tokyo, December 16, 2008 – 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."
About Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.
Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the maker of Subaru automobiles, is a leading manufacturer in Japan with a long history of technological innovations that dates back to its origin as an aircraft company. While the automotive business is a main business pillar, FHI's Aerospace, Industrial Products and Eco Technologies divisions offer a diverse range of products from general-purpose engines, power generators, and sanitation trucks to small airplanes, crucial components for passenger aircrafts, and wind-powered electricity generating systems. Recognized internationally for its AWD (all-wheel drive) technology and Horizontally-Opposed engines in Subaru, FHI is also spearheading the development of environmentally friendly products and is committed to contributing to global environmental preservation.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Shipey 10:04AM (12/16/2008)
W.T.F.
The economy has slowed down... lets all FREAK OUT.
Seems like a pretty hard knee-jerk reaction considering the fact that their top performance models are entirely based around this type of racing.
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hashiryu 10:08AM (12/16/2008)
Mitsubishi does not seem to be having issues selling the Evo....
Will 10:14AM (12/16/2008)
Seriously, this is what a lot of people think about when they see a Subaru. What are they supposed to think of now? I hate how all of these companies are overreacting to the economy.
moyoi 12:05PM (12/16/2008)
overracting, maybe, but seeing how we jumped all over the big 3 because of money handling, I would error on the side of caution
PumaGTO 3:06PM (12/16/2008)
Honda leaving f1, Audi leaving LeMans and now this?!
Repent! The end is near!
hashiryu 10:07AM (12/16/2008)
I just can't frikin believe it...........
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hashiryu 10:07AM (12/16/2008)
I hope the FIA are happy now. They've done gone and made a right mess of it.
catgirlshyla 12:29PM (12/16/2008)
Think now ProDrive will hasten plans and maybe produce a production Prodrive P2?
Rev 7:41PM (12/16/2008)
That is the greatest idea ever. I would kill for one.
Pip 10:08AM (12/16/2008)
My jaw.. it's on the floor.
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Kevin 10:08AM (12/16/2008)
Shipey, you're mostly right... and I doubt very much that the economy is the whole story. It's a moderately decent excuse, no more. I think the S2000 rule is what was going to push Subaru out, and the economy is nothing more than an excuse to do it one season sooner.
Like you said, their top performance models are based around "this" style of racing... the S2000 reg isn't "this" anymore. Is Subaru going to start making N/A 2.0L WRXs? Not likely.
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Shipey 10:14AM (12/16/2008)
Yeah you've got a good point there... gives them a good excuse to exit while they can, without raising much of a fuss. It's definitely a possibility.
It seems like a bit of a waste though... there are a lot of diehard fans out there who have just been totally abandoned. I can't imagine too many folks would notice the change in whats under the hood, but it's just becoming NASCAR 2. It's only a matter of time until they're just running spec cars.
synapse46 7:28PM (12/31/2008)
I believe the economic situation is only half the story for Honda leaving F1. There is a huge push to go with spec engines and a pinyata of other crazy rule changes. F1 should not be introducing the KERS (hybrid system) and wholesale rule changes in uncertain times for manufacturers.
Richard 11:11AM (12/16/2008)
Kevin, it's not that the engine has to be naturally aspirated, it is that it has to be an in-line 4. I actually believe it is a spec. engine produced by Skoda. Subarus drive train (gearbox on back) isn't compatible with that engine so, they are out.
The rules makers have f'ed up again in the name of cost cutting. Now, also, throat cutting.
Kevin 11:28AM (12/16/2008)
Richard:
Heck, that's even worse. It's no wonder Subaru is bailing out. It sucks, but I don't blame them one bit. If I were them I'd bail too. This one-engine trend adopted by FIA of late is going to drive a lot of teams out of top level motorsports.
The WRC has consistently disappointed since the introduction of the WRC Class. Group A was where it was at! If you wanted to rally an AWD car, you had to PRODUCE one. Simple concept, really. There were no pretenders in Group A.... Impreza vs. Lancer vs. Escort Cossie vs. Celica.
Those were the days!
nagmashot 12:01PM (12/16/2008)
most likely they left because of missing success....
they did not do well in the last decade... the last manufactor WRC title dates 12 years back(1996).
@Kevin if you name successfull Group A Rally cars how can you miss the most successfull of them all? Lancia Delta Integrale... the most successfull Rally car of all time.
william 10:09AM (12/16/2008)
As a loyal WRX fan (owned two in last seven years)... I'm at a loss. What a disappointment. I also think it is a mistake and most of all a totally gutless move.
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BigWill 10:13AM (12/16/2008)
Wow.
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Coco 10:14AM (12/16/2008)
hey why don't they ditch the symmetrical AWD too while they're at it :)
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gafoto 10:24AM (12/16/2008)
Holy Sheeeit!
I can't believe it.
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