Sad day in the ARC

[Mitch]

:'(Subaru Rally Team Australia has announced its withdrawl from the Australian Rally Championship today. After 10 successive titles (drivers) they have called it quits. This will all so mean that the sponsorship of the Rally of Canberra and Rally Tasmania shall also end. All customer cars shall also cease.

Will this mean the end of Subaru's dominance?

Will Les Walkden have to run bith Crocker and Herridge next year?

Will Possum Bourne Motorsport run them instead.

Will Mitsubishi, Ford and Toyota be the only manufacturers?

Stay tuned.

[tumbo]

While I can totally understand SRTA pulling out of the championship, it worries me as to the wider implications of such a move. Firstly where will Crocker (3 times champion) and Herridge end up. Secondly what are the funding implications of such a move on the championship as a whole.

I doubt the ability of PB Motorsport to take over the running as they handed everything over to Subaru a few yrs ago and the operation has minimised severely since PB's passing.

I also wonder whether this is the death keel for the championship, Subaru were the main drivers as to changing the rules and supporting the decisions of CAMS to keep the championship productive, world class and ahead of the field. Will drivers feel that the competition is no longer there and not compete. The dominance of Subaru had a lot to do w/ PB and SRTA. Toyota are in the prime seat but what effect will a reduced (in numbers and manufacturer teams) competition have on the fans and support base???

[Lita]

I read that this may happen about a month ago, so it comes as no surprise. Apparently it is rumoured that Crocker and Herridge want to take part in the Asia Pacific arena. Subaru said that running the factory Group n team here was likened to that of running 2 national football teams and their money was better spent in Asia! If that is the case then Asia is the much better option-especially if both drivers and crews can commit to the travel and have the dedication to make it overseas.
Of course it does have far bigger implications in our championship. It was also rumoured that Possum Bourne motorsport will be a smaller player than what it currently is and that the Walkden outfit will step up to the plate. But the article I read said that walkden will not run Crocker or Herridge, so it remains to be seen who will?
As far as manufacturers go-I don't see anyone else coming into the mix for the 2006 season. It's a bit late in the piece for new arrivals-and if it did happen, then who would have enough clout to try their hand at it?
In a way I am sorry, because Subaru have dominated and are a 'piece' of the furniture-but then, what else can they achieve here? They need to take their army and move North I think-it's a much more cost effective and executive decision for them as a business. You have to respect that.
And, look at Ford, they are putting up the dollars now and commiting to our championship-that's a good thing. In light of Subaru pulling out, Ford have injected dollars and time into Group N-that say's the championship isn't dead and interest is still held by the big boys.
I believe the category needed an overview anyway-it was becoming stale and unhealthy. Maybe 2006 won't be the year we wanted but it will certainly provide time for development and re-booting.
I worry about toyota though-there are many reasons for them to reduce spending and weaken at the hands of the category. It's going to be interesting to see how they tackle the 2006 season-I hope they rise to the next level, but doubtful I think.
-LITA