Publicat in: December 16, 2008, Vizualizari: 50
Announced last night on the Finnish commercial television station MTV3 is the decision that Subaru shall not continue in the world rally championship, with immediate effect. This was confirmed by official synchronised statements made in Japan and Britain this morning. As in the case of Suzuki, the current economic climate is blamed for the decision, but in reality other underlying reasons are known to be involved. Firstly, it is believed that the contract between Fuji Heavy (Subaru's parent company) and Prodrive, which currently continues to the end of 2009, was not renewed at the specified time (the middle of 2008). Secondly the relationship between STI, the Fuji Heavy's competition corporate division, and Prodrive has recently been at a low level on account of disappointing performances in recent years in motorsport. For some time STI had been looking into the possibility of another company running their international competition programme, a plan which because of the economic situation is not now being pursued. As late as yesterday (15 December) Prodrive confirmed that Subaru had registered for the 2009 world rally championship and that their contracted drivers Petter Solberg and Chris Atkinson were both planning to continue in the team in 2009.
This development leaves just two manufacturers engaged in the 2009 world championship, Citroen and Ford., with Japanese manufacturers completely absent from the top level of the sport. It is unclear whether the FIA will now accept an entry from a second level M2 "Manufacturers Team" if a full "Manufacturer" (M1) team has not been registered. Prodrive first appeared with Subaru on world championship events in 1990 in the early days of the Legacy competition programme and between 1993 and 2005 won 47 world championship events, 46 of them with the Impreza. The company was world rally champion manufacturer in 1995, 1996 and 1997, and driving their cars Colin McRae, Richard Burns and Petter Solberg each won the world drivers series.
The end of the SWRT programme came two days after the team's final appearance, at the Memorial Bettega stadium racing in Bologna, which was marked by an extraordinary incident. Originally Chris Atkinson was to appear, but after his heavy crash the weekend before at Wales Rally GB, Petter Solberg took over. At the end of his run, Solberg performed his usual crowd pleasing display, with a difference. This time he not only climbed out of the car while the car was in motion, to wave more effectively to the crowds, but also actually climbed on to the roof of his car while in motion. Unfortunately the driver's door then shut, preventing his reentry into the car. Petter jumped from the roof, injuring his wrist before running after his slow moving car. The Subaru S14 World Rally Car proceeded driverless down the main straight in the stadium until crashing into safety barriers. No statement has been made about Subaru's ongoing Group N rally activities.
3mmm
Announced last night on the Finnish commercial television station MTV3 is the decision that Subaru shall not continue in the world rally championship, with immediate effect. This was confirmed by official synchronised statements made in Japan and Britain this morning. As in the case of Suzuki, the current economic climate is blamed for the decision, but in reality other underlying reasons are known to be involved. Firstly, it is believed that the contract between Fuji Heavy (Subaru's parent company) and Prodrive, which currently continues to the end of 2009, was not renewed at the specified time (the middle of 2008). Secondly the relationship between STI, the Fuji Heavy's competition corporate division, and Prodrive has recently been at a low level on account of disappointing performances in recent years in motorsport. For some time STI had been looking into the possibility of another company running their international competition programme, a plan which because of the economic situation is not now being pursued. As late as yesterday (15 December) Prodrive confirmed that Subaru had registered for the 2009 world rally championship and that their contracted drivers Petter Solberg and Chris Atkinson were both planning to continue in the team in 2009.
This development leaves just two manufacturers engaged in the 2009 world championship, Citroen and Ford., with Japanese manufacturers completely absent from the top level of the sport. It is unclear whether the FIA will now accept an entry from a second level M2 "Manufacturers Team" if a full "Manufacturer" (M1) team has not been registered. Prodrive first appeared with Subaru on world championship events in 1990 in the early days of the Legacy competition programme and between 1993 and 2005 won 47 world championship events, 46 of them with the Impreza. The company was world rally champion manufacturer in 1995, 1996 and 1997, and driving their cars Colin McRae, Richard Burns and Petter Solberg each won the world drivers series.
The end of the SWRT programme came two days after the team's final appearance, at the Memorial Bettega stadium racing in Bologna, which was marked by an extraordinary incident. Originally Chris Atkinson was to appear, but after his heavy crash the weekend before at Wales Rally GB, Petter Solberg took over. At the end of his run, Solberg performed his usual crowd pleasing display, with a difference. This time he not only climbed out of the car while the car was in motion, to wave more effectively to the crowds, but also actually climbed on to the roof of his car while in motion. Unfortunately the driver's door then shut, preventing his reentry into the car. Petter jumped from the roof, injuring his wrist before running after his slow moving car. The Subaru S14 World Rally Car proceeded driverless down the main straight in the stadium until crashing into safety barriers. No statement has been made about Subaru's ongoing Group N rally activities.
3mmm
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