Suzuki quietly backed away from the World Rally Championship this week, citing the global economic downturn as the main reason for their withdrawal. The Japanese manufacturer, which has no rallying pedigree, only started a serious WRC team this year and will be no great loss to the series.
Much bigger news is the hot, breaking news that the Prodrive-run Subaru team have decided to go the way of Suzuki. A report on the Finnish MTV3 network’s website claims Subaru won’t compete in WRC in 2009. That rumour has just been confirmed by Prodrive’s Dave Richards:
“Subaru’s departure from the WRC is a great loss as it is one of the sport’s icons,” Richards said.
“The Subaru World Rally Team has created true champions such as Colin McRae and Richard Burns and its absence will be felt by many the world over. Although this decision closes a significant chapter in Prodrive’s history, our focus now turns to the future.”
This is a great shame. Subaru have a terrific rallying pedigree, with six world titles to their name in the last 20 years. Their iconic blue-and-yellow Imprezas have become an integral part of the rallying world. The championship won’t be the same without them. Indeed, only Ford and Citroen remain. And who wants to see a two-horse race?
With Prodrive not involved in rallying, does this mean Dave Richards has his eye on Honda’s F1 team? Watch this space.
Testing for Red Bull in Spain this week, Sebastien Loeb proved he has the skills to move from rallying to F1.
The Frenchman completed 82 laps in total. His best, a 1:22.503, placed him eighth on the timesheet, just two tenths slower than “Handsome Bob” Kubica and quicker than the likes of Nelson Piquet, Adrian Sutil and Christian Klein.
“I don’t think I’d like to take this much horsepower into the forests!” Loeb joked after the session.
“It was a great experience though and I had fun, although I have to say that driving one of these cars is tougher physically than driving my rally car.”
The test was a gift to Loeb from Red Bull - who also sponsor his Citroen rally team - for winning the World Rally drivers’ title for an unprecendented fifth time in a row.
Crasher bonus! Watch footage of Loeb’s Red Bull test below:
Valentino Rossi will compete in next month’s Wales Rally, an event he competed in six years ago without success. The Italian will drive a Ford Focus in aid of the BBC’s Children in Need charity event. Prior to the Welsh event, he will also take part in the Monza Rally, an event he won in 2006 and 2007.
“I am hoping for a good result at next weekend’s Monza Rally to prepare for the forests of Wales,” said Rossi. “I’m also delighted to be supporting BBC Children in Need, which does such vital work in the UK.”
Mr Rossi seems obsessed with four-wheeled machines at the moment. On November 20/21, he will test in a Ferrari F2008 at Mugello.
Travis Pastrana won the first ever X-Games rally event, in 2006, beating the late Colin McRae after the latter rolled his car with two corners to go. This year Pastrana was back to defend his title, against the likes of BMX legend Dave Mirra (watch him in action here).
So did Travis win gold again? You’ll have to watch the clip to find out.
