Subaru out of GARC? - Brindabella Motor Sport Club

bob moore · 02-11-2005, 03:06 PM

Just heard on 104.7 FM (whatever that is) that Subaru has announced that it will not be in next year's GARC.

tortfeaser · 02-11-2005, 03:09 PM

http://www.rallysportmag.com/cms/A_105416/article.html

Bummer. They were dominant, but gave plenty to the sport. Thanks Team Blue.

Tweety · 02-11-2005, 03:14 PM

D'oh. Apparently tar babies are a more worthwhile target for them?

It'd be nice if it wasn't always about money.

Kagan · 02-11-2005, 03:30 PM

WOW, didn't see that coming!!!

I bet the people who bought the RS cars are even more pi$$ed off now, as they are pretty much usless now, although the pretty much were regardless of the Subaru team pulling the plug.

TKM · 02-11-2005, 03:35 PM

There had been some rumours floating around for a while now that they were going to pull out of the ARC at the end of the year as they were unhappy with the freedoms granded to the Toyota's, but the word was they were going to go Asia Pacific. This whole tar thing is a complete surprise.

Quote:

From the ARN article "Cody’s performance this year to win the championship against heavily modified Group N (P) vehicles has been nothing short of sensational..."

Paul · 02-11-2005, 03:37 PM

This news has been circulating around the traps for some time now. Cody will go to LWR as that will be the suedo Subaru team.

Kagan · 02-11-2005, 03:43 PM

I guess this means it is even more reason for Ford to join, we need the manufactures!!!

At least all those people who seemed to "hate" the Subaru team (for winning so much I assume) will have one less thing to worry about.

Swill · 02-11-2005, 03:48 PM

That would be a fair chunk of blue money leaving the ARC also, will be interesting to see where the championship is at in a couple of years time. Anyone for another Friday night special? Even with our limit of 30 car, We'll get more cars than than the ARC next year

KathyB · 02-11-2005, 03:49 PM

Check out http://www.subaru.com.au/news/?newsid=12369
for full details on the Subaru pull out of ARC etc

Spac · 02-11-2005, 03:51 PM

Woah, that was unexpected. I'd heard the rumours about SRTA concentrating on Asia Pacific at the ARC's expense, but not this...

Interesting that they're going after the tar babies. While Subaru's customers are typically NOT 'real' rally people, the very rally based image has definitely been a real asset to them - personally I suspect that Rallying is prestigious enough and "unreal" enough for the typical Subaru buyer that it is an ideal marketing tool.
In other words, typical Subaru owner can crap on about how Subarus are rally cars and all the rest, but will NEVER be challenged to prove it themselves...

The circuit stuff may prove to be more effective for marketing the brand, but I doubt it. At the very least, it will be a lot more hassle for 'em.

A few random points:
1. Is there any chance that they're playing the game, like so many other teams do when the rules aren't to their liking?

2. Surely this is a pretty big drama for Gazcom? Losing their largest, most consistant team, lose the sponsor for TWO ARC events, lose their course cars, all in one swoop...
This also ties back in to the discussions last night: What is the ARC really worth? Even less than we thought, it seems.

Maybe they should just ditch the ARC, or make it a one-round wonder, and then ARCom can (finally) concentrate their efforts on rallying that's relevant to most of us...

3. "Heavily modified N(P) vehicles"... Sounds nice in a press release, but is fairly offensive to the intelligence of anyone who knows what a AWD N(P) actually is...

Paul · 02-11-2005, 04:06 PM

Mr S I think your find that they will probably go into something a bit more spectator orintated, such as football or the likes.

Matt · 02-11-2005, 04:13 PM

I wonder if this means that there will be no ARC on TV next year...

Gut reaction: anger. I don't know if it is right or wrong, but that is my gut reaction. Rallying (both the sport and the image) made Subaru what they are in this country today, and they have turned their back on it.

I feel that rallying has a huge sign on the side of it saying "TITANIC".

Jimbo · 02-11-2005, 04:20 PM

I wonder if this has anything to do with it?
http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosins...aut-338286.htm

Mike Cherry · 02-11-2005, 04:49 PM

In a press release from Ford, the statement was made that the Focus had been concieved with current and future regulations in mind, what do they and GAZCOM know that we don't?
Considering this and Subaru's recent move and statements, could we see the fast tracking of an all tarmac ARC series? The regulations for such are already in place.
This may see a shift in the manufacturer support to a tarmac series and the real ARC become a privateer supported series.
Might not be a bad thing, the series would need to cater for the needs of the competitors ( read costs ) instead of being forced to accept what Gazza thinks we all need.

Spac · 02-11-2005, 04:57 PM

Hmmm... As whacky as it sounds, I'm finding it hard to discredit your ideas, Mr Cherry.

The Ford appears to be a far more likely tarmac car than gravel car, Subaru has specifically stated that it wants to go Tarmac "rallying", and Mr South says that N(P) cars will be OK for Tarmac Rallys in 2006+....