Subaru Pulls out of WRC...

[BlewByYouEvoVIII]

Im not sure if anyone else saw this or not:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/16/2448307.htm

http://www.fhi.co.jp/english/contents/pdf_en_49558.pdf

There goes WRC, it wont be the same without Subaru.

[Dangeruss]

Wow, even Honda quit F1? Both are a surprise to me. It is a sad to see two awesome manufacturers quit a major motorsport. Even though Honda had been lagging behind in the 2008 F1 season.

[BlewByYouEvoVIII]

Motorsports is just so expensive and the economy is suffering so bad that im sure this seems like the most reasonable way to save money

[Dangeruss]

Yeah, R&D takes up a lot of money. In F1, if your not spending more than 100 million a season then you are not even competitive. The economy is the main part, but I believe Max Mosley and the FIA acted as a good catalyst also.

[Xpsi]

wow... just wow

[TripperFx3]

I'm pretty floored myself... I never thought I'd see either, Urabus or Mitsu pull out of rally, but I know Fuji Heavy Industries has been going through some tough times recently.

[manchi]

Audi and Porsche also pulled out ALMS too.. Racing world is changing..

[TripperFx3]

Wow... I wonder whats going to happen to those series? I truly would hate to see them die off.

[BlewByYouEvoVIII]

Another way of saying racing is going down the tubes...

[jktripp]

oh dont worry, im sure congress will bail them out.

[TripperFx3]

Congress may bail out NASCAR if they need it, but what about international leagues like Formula 1 and WRC?

[BlewByYouEvoVIII]

Ya, these are not US companies, the US cant really justify giving them money :D

[TouringBubble]

NASCAR already got some bailout benefits ... "Auto Racing Tracks" got some extra tax incentives apparently.

The list below was included in the bailout that passed ...

New Tax earmarks in Bailout bill
- Film and Television Productions (Sec. 502)
- Wooden Arrows designed for use by children (Sec. 503)
- 6 page package of earmarks for litigants in the 1989 Exxon Valdez incident, Alaska (Sec. 504)

Tax earmark “extenders” in the bailout bill.
- Virgin Island and Puerto Rican Rum (Section 308)
- American Samoa (Sec. 309)
- Mine Rescue Teams (Sec. 310)
- Mine Safety Equipment (Sec. 311)
- Domestic Production Activities in Puerto Rico (Sec. 312)
- Indian Tribes (Sec. 314, 315)
- Railroads (Sec. 316)
- Auto Racing Tracks (317)
- District of Columbia (Sec. 322)
- Wool Research (Sec. 325)

[jktripp]

its our tax money, sure we can bail them out. we got plenty of taxes we can pay:rolleyes:

[mouse]

Just as big as that. Audi is pulling the R10 out of the full American Le Mans series, after years of domination its over. I believe they are releaseing a new car but will only run Sebring and the imfamous 24 hours of Le Mans. Still they were a huge financial backer of the ALMS series and I am worried about its future!

[em1toevo]

Guys calm down! Racing, as we know it, will return when the economy rebounds. Mitsu has been out for a few years now. I knew it was only a matter of time before others followed suit.

[mouse]

I am freakin out, but its still a surprise. Honda has also haulted all development of the replacement NSX.