Suzuki and Subaru gone from WRC

[Mike H]

Both Suzuki and Subaru have left the WRC. That's a major blow to the rallying image. Probably more to come.:(

http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/news?slug=ap-wrc-subarupullout&prov=ap&type=lgns

http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/news?slug=ap-wrc-suzukipullout&prov=ap&type=lgns

[Marsh]

Wow! That's surprising.

[Yopofun]

Wow, that's a big switch kick to the rear diff of rally racing!

They were 2 years away from making it an even 20 years :(

DAMN YOU ECONOMICS! DAMN YOU!

[GTRacer]

I stopped watching WRC when Speed Channel stopped airing it, so I'm not sure this is still true, but weren't the rules as to differentials in WRC favouring "privateer" teams over the factory backed teams? If that is still the case then why spend millions of dollars trying to compete as a factory team?

And I realize we in North America aren't the centre of the universe, but we're still a huge car market, and what's the point of trying to build brand recognition in a motorsports arena that doesn't even get media coverage?