HOWY

Yes sad news for Rallying and Subaru but maybe it is time for WRC cars to more closely resemble their road going counterparts, after all this might actually help car sales as people would feel they were buying something that does actually perform similarly to its rally version. It would also help keep costs wdown for manufacturing. Perhaps the emphasis should be more on reliability than out and out performance then perhaps we could also go back to having an RAC Rally which covered all parts of UK not just expensive short stages in Wales. By the way didn't Peugoet drop out of WRC for a short while before they returned with the 206WRC a cracking winning car?

Ved

They'll have to do something amazing to get the new STI into people's hands now. 99% of people on here have a Subaru because of seeing them in the rally so not having them in the WRC (assuming privateers will stick with the hawkeyes) will leave Subaru with a big marketing headache.


Actually just had a thought. Since Subaru said(!) that they developed the new hatchback for WRC, does this mean they'll ditch it and go back to a saloon Impreza with some decent interior? Might be a silver lining after all

Apple

That sounds very much like Citroen did a few years back - pull out and not have a true manufacturer entry but have the Chronos team which was as near as damn-it and effectively a factory team. It gave them time and money to regroup and develop the C4 after the Xara WRC.

Trying to be hopeful given the financial situation and not very brilliant results over the last year or two...

Plus one in the eye for all the Luddites who believe we should be driving round in classics - ever heard of progress and development?

From an MY08 STi owner...

Andy

mad555

iTrader: (1)

True SWRT accounts for around 20% of their turnover.Still a sh1tter for jobs in Prodrive at this time of year.

Scoobychick

iTrader: (1)

Not so, as I mentioned earlier in the thread, Rally GB a couple of weeks ago was a Impreza hatchback fest, there were blooming loads of them

MrLouKnee

it was only last month during the F1 season, Subaru said they were returning to it, i thought they were going to buy Honda

n one

iTrader: (5)

The fastest Solberg`s been all year

MotorSport MAD - Solbergs Embarrassing Fall -Bettega Memorial Rally Sprint

bioforger

iTrader: (1)

run forest run!

Removed.

I think a lot of motorsport is going to suffer, probably for a few years, as the economic situation bites.
Personally I don't think it will have any effect on if I buy another Scooby, the car itself will do that. When the times comes to replace my Hawkeye, I'll look at whatever the current model is and make a decision on that.


Then I'll go and buy an Evo

Ste RB5138

I was gutted when I heard it on the Radio 1 news. A sad day indeed

Feel sorry for the guys at Banbury if there are redundancy's

I think its time to get out the old DVD's of the glory days of McRae, Burns & Solberg winning championships!

codie247

That was just what I was thinking mate. You never know.

Lee

rickya

iTrader: (18)

What is the motor sport world comming to....

Honda to quit F1
Now Suzuki & Subaru out of WRC

who knows which manufacturer will quit what next.

I cant believe that considering the current economic climate the WRC governing body decide to change the rules & cause huge, new re-development costs to manufacturers!

codie247

On a different angle, a couple of weeks ago Toyota shelved plans and stopped any further spending on their car plants in the UK. Connected? Hmmm?!!

Lee

Marky9074

Interesting twist of fate considering two weeks ago talks of Marcus Gronholm driving next year....

555scooby

iTrader: (2)

I cant believe this, subaru is rally for me, im glad i went to wales now and possibly seen the last wrc rally for the SWRT.

D6ale

iTrader: (1)

See here - Adapta team will still run in '09

The Dogs B******s

Another sad day in the world of Subaru

Dream Weaver

Sad news, but not surprised in the slightest.

Both the WRC and BTCC have advanced way too much over their original ideas, and they no longer represent the cars available to the average man.

Go back to rallying and touring car roots of slightly breathed on road cars and the winning formula will return, plus budgets will be slashed by 90% at least, which will get the manufacturers back.

LeeMac

iTrader: (1)

Anyone see the report on skynews today

the sports feller sounded a fan of the scoob, mentioning the scooby community on the net

and the main woman on there mentioned her son said the Impreza isn't what it used to be

was good to see a little discussion on skynews about the old scoob

LeeMac

iTrader: (1)

As for the road car I dont think Citroen have had the same effect what Subaru had in the 90s

Apple

I'd hardly call Citroens 'iconic' which is what scoobs were in earlier days...

I passed a C4 done up in rally colours on the A1 a long time ago and it was something along the lines of a "Loeb Special Edition" - it stood out to me as a rally follower and I guess they were trying something to cache in on his success a la Mitsi TME cars but I've never seen another - it could have been an individual dealer putting it together with the rally-look bits.

T5NYW

iTrader: (4)

Well the.............

08 Hatch are now the "Newage" Scoobs
01-07 Saloon are now the "Classic" Scoobs
93-00 Cars are now the "Vintage" Scoobs



Tony

andywiddss1

iTrader: (4)

all we can do is see what happens in 2010

Blind Side

I fear that this decision, although commercially understandable, could well be the final nail in the coffin for Subaru UK. Over the past few years they have moved the brand completely away from its original (& extremely loyal) customer support/fan base.
They retained this support for so long possibly because:

1. They had a hugely successful profile in WRC, and a highly competitive, talented team with real attitude.
2. They were an unconventional and quirky manufacturer. Never 'mainstream' in their approach.
3. The road car in STI form was fairly close to Group N both in appearance & performance. (Even more so the JDM versions).
4. With the Impreza they produced a highly affordable, practical 4 door saloon shape with reasonably good 2nd hand residuals.
5. They used smaller sized dealers who generally loved the cars and had a proper understanding of customer service.
6. Solid reliability & engineering.

Only the last point has survived in their ongoing quest for bland mass market acceptability. Very Sad!

Janspeed

iTrader: (1)

They have drifted away slowly, and they have to go back to basics....NOW!

What better time to do what they do best: make simple, effective, fast cars.

Make them light, cheap(er) and stop fumbling about!

mike2.5subaru

Yes I'm sure that they did the Loeb edition to celebrate Loebs victory it's a 1.6 petrol

wrx9181

iTrader: (2)

All i can say is GUTTED !

TomR555

iTrader: (1)

Cant help but think that subaru themselves messed up when this new version of the Impreza came on the scene,the scoob woz always ment to be a saloon not a wide backsided hatchback as for the new WRC car YUK!!!

war1974

i dont get how many companies are BLAMING the credit crunch !!
i am sure we have just had 10 CONSCECUTIVE years of growth etc with most compaines posting record profits???

i think subaru have made a massive error with the new model and to be fair with the spoilerless look getting more and more its not even like a while ago where a scooby meant in your face looks etc

still maybe my classic will go up in value and the rest and some of the little chav's who own them will be priced out of the market and go back to other makes!

Greatnorth

the rules for the WRC are set to be changed and will come into force in 2010 WRC cars as we know them now will be banned and replaced by S2000 spec cars which lack the spectacle and speed of the current WRC cars of course the advantage of S2000 is that the cars are alledgely a lot less expensive and nearer to grp N which may intice more manufacturers back I know at the moment pugeot, vauxhall, arbarth (fiat) have all built and are developing S2000 cars which rev to about 8500 rpm compared to the WRC's current 5500 rpm so you'll lose the WRc cackle and get revvyer cars like this YouTube - Rally Champion - Abarth Grande Punto Super 2000

make your own minds up, I'd prefer the current WRC spec popping and banging and cackling away. to get a glipmse of where the WRC is heading go to scotland next year and watch the IRC they run S2000


FIA release....
__________

WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP
As already announced, the 2010 World Rally Car will be S2000 based. However, the removable kit, already adopted by the WMSC, will be redefined with no electronic benefits, or similar upgrades, to ensure cost reductions. The new S2000-based World Rally Car will only be permitted for use on World Rally Championship events.
The FIA Production Car World Rally Championship will be retained for Group N cars, including the existing S2000 car.