Subaru Pulls out of World Rally Championship (WRC)
Blames poor economy, not poor results
Not two weeks after the final race of the 2008 season, Subaru has made the surprise move to withdraw from the 2009 World Rally Championship. The move follows a similar announcement the day before by Suzuki.
For the past 20 years the Subaru WRC team, under the direction of Prodrive, has won six WRC Championship titles with drivers like the late, great Colin McRae. Arguably Subaru’s continued existence as a manufacturer in the international marketplace has relied heavily on its reputation for success in racing.
Citing the worldwide economic downturn, Subaru was quick to blame a tight pocketbook and not the fact that the company hasn’t won a race since 2006. At the end of the 2008 season the Subaru team finished 3rd overall with drivers Chris Atkinson and Petter Solberg grabbing the fifth and sixth positions, respectively.
If no other teams join before the 2009 season starts, only Ford and Citroen will be left battling it out in the top class.
Team operator Prodrive will apparently begin preparing to enter a private team in 2010.
Official Release, plus 2008 Subaru WRC Gallery after the jump:
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