WRC or World Rally Championship is the world's most extravagant and largest rallying series in the world organised by the FIA. It is where the world's best in cars, teams, drivers and manufacturers, gather. And in the late days of 2008, it received its biggest blows. Two of its avid participants, both are Japanese car manufacturers, withdrew from the 2009's WRC. First, it was Suzuki who got out. Not too long after that, Subaru announced that they are quitting. This is not exactly an exodus for the World Rally Championship, only that, their resignation is so sudden, that it can be the most remarkable story in the history of the said competition. A lot are asking what made these cars decide that the finally have to leave.
Suzuki announced to the public that they are pulling out their team in the WRC in December of 2008. This was despite the fact that they are doing good in the competition. The Suzuki World Rally Team debut in 2007 where in they finished in 5th place, not bad for a novice. On the next season, they also made an impact on the race. Andersson and Gardemeister, its drivers finished 8th and 7th respectively in Monte Carlo. At home in the 2088 Rally Japan, the team earned better places at 5th and 6th places. At the super special stage in the Sapporo Dome, Gardemeister hand them their first stage win. Everything happening is pretty nice. And nobody guessed it will end to that.
According to Suzuki, their decision to withdraw from the competition was based on the contraction of road-car sales caused by the worsening economic turmoil, and that it has acted promptly in taking possible countermeasures, including the reassessment of its production output worldwide. It also says that it sees the reduction in demand as a long-term problem.
Not too long after Suzuki's announcement, there came Subaru. It is another Japanese manufacturer who have been in the event since 1993. It has a total of 47 Rally wins, 3 Constructor's Championship and 3 three Driver's Championship. But in 2005, the Impreza WRC team stopped winning.
The company said that one of the reasons why they retired is that they are no longer performing better enough in the competition. They are blaming this lack of performance on car set up difficulties with their old-shape Impreza WRC. And also, just like what triggered Suzuki to resign, Subaru is experiencing economical down turn. It largely affects the entire automotive industry and this is what they see the best response to it.
World Rally Championship lost two of its greatest cars. But nevertheless, they remained offering the best entertainment in rally racing. The competition is still something to watch out for. There are still many great racing team to put an eye to. The coming years would still be very exciting and thrilling for all the WRC fans.