Official F1/Motorsport thread

[Richard.John]

I have zero interest in rallying, but I saw this and it might just make you rally nuts heart's skip a beat.

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/15/rumormill-subaru-pulling-out-of-wrc-tomorrow/#comments

[VR46]

Wouldn't surprise me, they've been off the pace for about three years now. Sad, but understandable given the current climate.

Surprised WRC isn't your thing RJ, it's not what it used to be but is a great spectacle of man against the clock.

[vanpeebles]

I think the best days were still the 70s and early 80s. Watching Ari in a Mk2 Escort is a superb spectacle. Far better than the modern day 4WDs. Although Group B was amazing.

[VR46]

Even around the years 1999 to say 2003, I remember the championship being so close that sure one year it was won with under/around 50 points.

[TheForce]

Subaru out of WRC..... sigh ..... never thought that would ever happen, Subaru was all about Rally ... this is a big loss for WRC, or atleast what's left of WRC. It's the same as with F1, the cost are rising and rising and now it's all collapsing..

I always love to watch WRC , it's always amazing to watch these cars going over the stages , snow, gravel, tarmac, mud ... just amazing to watch.
The years with Sainz, Auriol, Makkinen, Burns, McRae where amazing to watch, with brands like Toyota, Lancia, Mitsubishi, Ford, Subaru, Peugeot...

this is a big loss for motorsport..

So next year it's just Ford and Citroen at the start ... if they even continue the championship like this... Just as this year Latvala is really showing what he is capable off, I think he will be very strong next year, it's a joy to watch him drive, a bit like McRae, always FULL ATTACK !

[VR46]

With the way things are there will be less and less privateer teams also, hard to see WRC being taken seriously which is very sad.

Just as this year Latvala is really showing what he is capable off, I think he will be very strong next year, it's a joy to watch him drive, a bit like McRae, always FULL ATTACK !

Reminds me of this McRae slogan I posted in the car thread a few weeks back

http://ntsc-uk.domino.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=15567&d=1226435746

[Richard.John]

I think the Impreza is possibly the most recognisable rally car ever (Audi Quattro excluded) I don't watch it but I know the blue WRX STi is a legend.

Also there are rumblings around the net that the PSA group might buy Honda F1. The more I think about it, the more I question Honda's sanity. Here is a pure engineering company, a legend in F1, that is deciding to pull out due to costs. In reality though, if they had been successful and taken the championship, would they pull the plug? No is the answer so it boggles the mind as to why considering that the sport is going to go on a serious diet in the coming years and will cut all excess baggage. If they had just ridden the storm, things may have turned round, but by pulling out they have made it hard to return if they ever decide to do so. With that said, Honda have been here before so you never know.

[vanpeebles]

Can car makers justify spending a kings ransom on something thats pretty poor like F1 is at the moment. While closing factories and putting staff on half shifts or sacking them?

[VR46]

Not if they have a concience.

When I think of all the money they've spent over the years, compared to what they've got in return it can only stack up as a bunch of wasted millions to the Honda hierachy

[Richard.John]

But if any company is in it for pushing the envelope of engineering excellence, it's Honda, surely. Toyota just see it as a marketing exercise, but Honda have history. You can't buy that.

[vanpeebles]

How much of that translates to road cars though? Not much, its a massive expensive for little return.

[CMcK]

How much of that translates to road cars though? Not much, its a massive expensive for little return.

Bang on VP. With the introduction of KERS this season it seems like the technology transfer has gone from road cars to racing cars.

[Richard.John]

I thought this might happen.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72515

[Roddie]

Guess it makes sense, really.

[Richard.John]

I remember when Senna was (supposedly) on a million USD per race for the '93 season and it was simply unbelievable at the time. In fact, it lead RD to pursue a different route as he said that he would no longer allow one driver's wages to swallow up so much of the team's budget. Such thinking probably brought us Mika and Lewis.