2009 World Rally Championship

[Jean Michel Rucheton]

Peugeot 205 T16! :second:

 

[Cam Wedgwood]

Peugeot 205 T16! :second:

:first:

 

[Stuart Neal]

S2000 rules

how does the S2000 rules affect the WRC? If at all. Will it overtake the WRC if it gets too popular?

 

[Gaëtan Legastelois]

And another for Loeb, and for Citroen, go for the next champonship but Which will be its future after 2009, he tells not to refuse an offer of a F1's team if we proposed him.
Five title in WRC was very impressive, congrats.

 

[Stuart Neal]

watching Targa NZ last weekend, a Short Audi S4 was doing the rounds, what a machine!

 

[Bram Hengeveld]

New World Rally Car details revealed

The FIA World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) has announced further technical details of the future World Rally Car.

After meeting today in Monaco, the council reconfirmed that the 2010 World Rally Car will be based on an S2000 specification car.

However, the scope of the removable performance kit, already adopted by the WMSC to bring the car to WRC specification, has been redefined - with no electronic benefits, or similar upgrades, allowed on cost grounds.

Instead, the WRC kit is believed to be limited to a turbo, revised inlet and exhaust manifolds, a quicker gearshift mechanism (with steering wheel paddle shift) and an aero package consisting of a rear wing and front spoiler. The bolt-on kit will cost under 30.000 Euros and should give the cars an extra 50bhp.

The WMSC also decided that the new S2000-based World Rally Car will only be permitted for use on World Rally Championship events, and that the P-WRC will remain open to Group N cars, including the existing S2000 car.

The FIA also revealed that it is in exclusive negotiations with Ralliart Italy to supply and service Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution cars for the Pirelli Star Drivers to contest the designated 2009 and 2010 FIA World Rally Championship events.

Source: wrc.com

 

[Sander Hogendoorn]

Subaru & Suzuki quit WRC

Subaru:

Subaru have made a shock announcement that they are to pull out of the World Rally Championship with immediate effect.

Just 24 hours after Suzuki said they were quitting the series, Subaru have cited the worldwide financial economic crisis as to why they will also not continue.

David Richards, the boss of the Prodrive company that runs Subaru's efforts in the WRC, was saddened by the decision which brings to an end a 20-year association.

"Subaru's departure from the World Rally Championship is a great loss as it is one of the sport's icons," said Richards, who helped Prodrive win six WRC titles.

"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."

Richards said Prodrive would look to redeploy their WRC workforce elsewhere in the company - having also confirmed that their customer rally teams will continue.

A statement from Prodrive suggested that they were looking for a swift return to the WRC, especially with new regulations are set to come into force in 2010.

"Looking ahead, 2010 will see the introduction of new World Rally Championship technical regulations, which provide Prodrive with an opportunity to prepare for re-entering the championship with a new team and build on its 24 years of World Rally Championship experience and success," said the statement.

Subaru have struggled to find form with their Impreza in recent years. Their last victory was in September 2005, when Petter Solberg took victory in the Rally GB after Sebastien Loeb chose not to triumph following the death of Michael Park. Their last win on merit was the Rally Mexico in March 2005.

The long-awaited new Impreza was introduced in the Acropolis Rally in May and, although its performance was originally encouraging with Solberg finishing second in Greece, it was never able to genuinely challenge Citroen or Ford for victories.

The team were hoping to push ahead with the development of the car ahead of next season and were planning to run four cars in 2009.

The withdrawal of Subaru and Suzuki in the last 24 hours leaves just two manufacturers in the sport - Citroen and Ford.

Suzuki

Suzuki has decided to pull out of the World Rally Championship with immediate effect due to the world's financial crisis.

"In responding to the contraction of the automotive sales caused by recent global economic turmoil, Suzuki has been promptly taking possible countermeasures including the reassessment of its global production output," said the Japanese car maker in a statement.

"The company, however, foresees the shrinking trend in longer periods of time rather than a short-term phenomenon.

"To secure its own business environment for tomorrow, the organization reviews every aspect of the operations and decided to focus on the core business functions such as the manufacturing system, environment technologies, and development of new-generation powertrains. As a result, Suzuki concluded to suspend the WRC activities from 2009."

Suzuki is the second major car maker to pull out of a world championship in the last 10 days, with Honda having announced their exit from Formula One.

Suzuki started its participation in the Junior World Rally Championship in 2002, before moving to the WRC in 2008 with its Junior champion Per-Gunnar Andersson and the experienced Toni Gardemeister.

The team struggled for speed and particularly reliability in the opening rounds, and by mid-season there were already rumours that the SX4 WRC project would be short-lived.

However, despite this uncertainty, Suzuki made good progress in the final part of the championship, with Andersson finishing fifth in both Japan and Great Britain, having run in the top three in the latter event.

The Japanese company said it would continue to support its customer teams taking part in the JWRC.

"Suzuki expresses its great appreciation to sponsors and fans around the world for their strong support to its activities," it added. "The company will continue to provide valued products for its customers by utilising the experiences earned through the JWRC and WRC activities."

 

[Danny Pattiwael]

Too bad, always loved the Subaru !
Mass abandoning of carbrands ... sadly :disapointed:

 

[Brian Venable]

When you're underperforming using the bad economy to get out is as good of an excuse as any.

 

[Daniel Pettit]

I'm genuinely surprised, rallying is what made Subaru what it is, far more than the others. Even under performing as they were the support and the positive impact on the brand was noticeable.

It also means Solberg is a free agent for 2009, that's got to be worrying a few drivers who thought their seats were safe!

 

[Stuart Neal]

so where to for Chris Atkinson?

 

[Lewis Owen]

Will miss both teams.
Next seasons going to be a good one ay.....:disapointed:

 

[Damian Henderson]

Ford could also withdraw cause of GM and it's not looking good over in the states.

When you're underperforming using the bad economy to get out is as good of an excuse as any.

It's not an excuse it's a fact.

 

[Sean Vohs]

RS200 best looking, Quattro best sounding

I love the look of the front of the Delta S4, but the back is hideous. I'll agree the RS200 looks amazing though.


I think the twin-charged S4 sounds epic. The whine from the Supercharger followed by the whistle and BoV from the turbo. :clap:

 

[William Yunck]

Peugeot s2000 IRC 207

While it isn't the WRC, it is still rally, and a cool car so I am posting it

Peugeot UK announced today that it has teamed up with Kronos Racing to introduce the Peugeot 207 S2000 to next year's IRC (Intercontinental Rally Challenge). The Peugeot 207 S2000 IRC will be driven by Kris Meeke with co-driver Paul Nagle.

 

[Lewis Owen]

Not a bad looking car.

 

[Quattr0]

What a bummer

 

[Ryan Mortimer]

Shame about subaru always was the car i'd look out for and support if there was some rally on the telly

 

[Stephen Carson]

Im hardly surprised that teams with currently underperforming cars are pulling out. Whats the point in spending all that money to develop your car for this year to then have to go and build an all new s2000 car.

Take a year out and spend it developing a competitive s2000 car to come back in with the new regs.

 

[Stuart Neal]

Chris Atkinson has been approached by Citroen to be included in the Junior Team in 2009. Smart move I reckon.