Prodrive chief 'may turn to F1

Subaru's withdrawal from the World Rally Championship could hasten team principal David Richards' return to F1.

Richards, chairman of Banbury-based firm Prodrive which prepares the Subaru cars, says he now has time to consider future projects.

"I can focus now on where we want to be long term. Who knows? That might be in Formula One," he told BBC Oxford.

Richards was axed by Honda when it took over BAR in 2004, and has not ruled out a takeover of the troubled F1 team.

Richards, a former Benetton boss, is thought to be one of the parties interested in taking over the Honda team - after the Japanese company pulled out of F1 because of financial reasons.

"I don't know about Honda," he said. "There's a new era beckoning in Formula One, with a lower cost base. No less competitive or exciting, but certainly (there is) an opportunity there."

When asked whether potential buyers might prefer to wait until cost cutting rules are fully implemented by F1, Richards replied: "That is going to be one of the challenges for Honda I suspect."

Prodrive runs the Subaru World Rally team and Aston Martin's Le Mans programmes as well as the Ford Performance Racing team in Australia.

source: bbc

Subaru pulls out of 2009 World Rally Championship

Subaru and rally competition have been synonymous for nearly 20 years, but in a surprising move, the company said on Tuesday that it is pulling out of the 2009 World Rally Championship in response to the global economic crisis.

The Prodrive-run Subaru team has won six WRC titles--three manufacturer's and three driver's--and built up a strong following around the world. In turn, rally success has helped Subaru sell sporty cars and burnish its image with enthusiasts, in the process making the blue Impreza rally car an icon.

The announcement came from Subaru's parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries, which said it had met its objectives for WRC competition.

Prodrive said it will prepare to re-enter competition in 2010 with a new team, as new technical regulations are introduced.

"Subaru's departure from the World Rally Championship is a great loss as it is one of the sport's icons," Prodrive chairman Dave 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."

On Monday, Suzuki said it would withdraw from the WRC. The departures leave the series without a Japanese automaker.

The news sends another chill through the racing world following word that Honda is pulling out of Formula One competition and Audi is leaving the American Le Mans Series.

Source autoweek