TOKYO — The World Rally Championship lost one-third of its teams within 24 hours when Subaru announced Tuesday it was following Suzuki out of the competition.
Both automakers cited concerns about the global economic crisis for quitting the sport, leaving Citroen and Ford as the only manufacturers in the FIA WRC competition for next season. It followed a sudden decision by Honda, Japan’s second biggest car manufacturer, to withdraw from Formula One.
Fuji Heavy Industries, Subaru’s parent company, announced the decision.
“We will not contest the 2009 FIA World Rally championship due to the pressures of the global economic crisis that spread from the U.S. financial crisis that began this autumn,” FHI president Kyoji Takenaka told a news conference. “The automotive industry worldwide, whether they are in developed or non-developed countries, have been hit hugely.
“Our company included, our business environment has been dramatically changed due to the quick deterioration of the global economy.”
A Fuji Heavy Industries statement said: “In order to optimize the management resources and to strengthen further the Subaru brand, FHI decided to withdraw from WRC activities at the earliest timing.”
Subaru has been involved in the WRC together with Prodrive, a British-based auto sports group, for 19 years and has won three constructors’ titles and three drivers’ championships.
It was third in the standings among six teams this season.
Car makers worldwide are under intense pressure to reduce spending as demand has dried up in recent months.
Honda announced it was pulling out of F1 on Dec. 5, a day after announcing it was cutting jobs in Britain and Japan and reducing its annual production of consumer cars because of plunging vehicle demand.
F1 unveiled a series of cost-cutting measures for teams in the wake of Honda’s withdrawal.
WRC organizers have bigger problems, with just four teams backed by two manufacturers remaining.
“Subaru’s departure from the World Rally Championship is a great loss as it is one of the sport’s icons,” Prodrive chairman David Richards said in a statement. “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.”
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