Subaru Backs out of WRC:
 

Just read this on another forum... Certainly a disheartening day in the world of Motorsports...

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(image is link to story)

Cheers,
Kyle.

SPR's gunna tear.. :cry:

so sad whats next chevy quits nascar?

I wouldn't be surprised. Honda was expected to pull out of F1 (not sure if they did?), Subaru's now out of WRC.. Another major motorsport, like NASCAR, is certainly next and I wouldn't be surprised if it were a major company (like Ford, Chevy, Dodge) to do so first..

But, if Toyota pulled out of NASCAR, I'm sure millions of Americans would be ecstatic.

It'll get better years from now, you'll see. It'll hopefully all be back to normal soon.

Audi dropped out of the American Le mans along with Porsche. Although Porsche isn't leaving completely, their still going to support GT2 category. Honda quit F1 and Suzuki pulled out of WRC too.

WRC with out Suby!!!!!!this is so unreal

im not all that upset actually i was never a big follower of the WRC. i more followed the USA rally team.

basically what happened is the rules changed. in 2010 they will no longer allow the flat 4 to compete, it will have to be an inline 4. Basically with the crap economy subaru doesnt want to spend money redesigning their car with a new motor. So they are just stoping at the end of the 2008 season.

But i garuntee when the economy picks back up, they will be back in WRC with a inline 4 design motor.

yep, mitsu was already out, and subaru is definitely out too.

they say it's because of "economic downturn"....but I don't buy it. I think it has to do with the switch to S2000 specifications for the 2010 season. which means, the manufacturer backing the team will then buy the drivetrain from a third party. so all the teams run the exact same drivetrain. this third party drivetrain happens to be a transverse inline-4. and, while subaru does have a couple of kei cars available in other markets that run transverse L4s, I really don't think they're up to spec to be competitive rally cars.


WRC has been talking for years about modifying their rules to state that all cars have to use a transverse 2.0l L4, instead of just a 2.0l 4-cyl like it was. it's the same thing they did in the '80s against Audi. And if that was any indication, one of 3 things will happen.

1) Subaru will attempt to conform, and blow a crapload of money because they'd have to completely build a car from the ground up to make it happen. Looks like this isn't going to happen....since they dropped out. as long as they stay out, it's all good.

2) Subarus just continue to get more and more badass, they abandon the idea that the STis have to remain 4-cyls (what's the point...right?), they reinforce the EZ36DR, slap a turbo (or 2) on it, and start churning out 500+ awhp wagons to compete with the likes of the RS6 :nod: :nod: :nod:

before long, they leave the horizontally opposed idea all together (sad, I know, but Audi moved on from the legendary 2.5l L5.....), start building small-displacement twin-turbo V8s, using torsen center LSDs (I think I just came a little) etc. etc. etc.

3) after one year without Mitsu OR Subaru....WRC dies down, looses all it's corporate sponsorship, TV coverage, etc. they abandon the rule book, and go back to being the grassroots motorsport that it started to be (and is today here in the states). in which case, We can only hope that Audi throws their hat in the ring again.




sucks in the short term, but I don't think it's all bad.



haha, SPR beat me to it.

ummm.. someone slap me if im wrong, but honda has never been in nascar .. have they :-?

I don't think so... I think that he meant Toyota.

Hmm... a WRC with out Subaru... hang on... *checks the scriptures* ITS THE END OF THE WORLD!!!!

lol. its amazing sometimes how un-real things seam. I mean, Subaru is basically THE WRC company! well, if thats what they want to do, than let them. but like you said, if Chevy left NASCAR, than it would be tragedy to Americans! but like Donzi said, if TOYOTA(Honda?) left than it would eb a time to rejoice!

toyota leaving NASCAR would be like ford leaving WRC.


this is like Chevy and Ford leaving NASCAR and leaving Toyota and Pontiac.

Dontspamme's correct. I meant Toyota, but was thinking Honda due to my F1 remark.

i really think that if this "bailout" bridge for detroit does not get fixed due to stubbourn conservitives that means that would mean would have to leave NASCAR until this is fixed (sorry if i offended anyone)

didnt offend me .. im not attracted to shiny metal, bright colors and loud noise all that much. besides, i can only spin my head round n' round so many times before i get a headache :D

ha! thats funny, no what i was trying to apologize for anyone whos republican on this site and being political on this subject. of course sorry for subaru as well.

Bail out won't stop the problems that plague the Big 2.5.

Bankruptcy, and the destruction of union contracts will. Half your problem comes from paying monkeys close to $80/hour after the union toys to do nothing more than pressing buttons and bolting the same bolt. It's a shame that the people who do skilled work (my dad, 20 year Master-Tech) get paid less.

All in good time.