John Kenny's Motorsport Blog

There are mixed views to the news that first Suzuki, then Subaru were pulling out of the 2009 World Rally Championship, the first round of which is Rally Ireland at the end of January.

Ireland replaced Monte Carlo as the first round of the series next year and there was much delight in Irish rallying circles as a result, although it took a while to get the necessary finance in place.

However, the news that both Japanese manufacturers were pulling out in the same week has caused a few flutters domestically and internationally.

Rally Ireland's event director John Naylor said: 'Recently at Rally GB, we learned that Citroen and Ford had committed to the 2009 season, mind you so did Subaru.

'We just didn't see that coming and it's a real blow coming on the news that Suzuki had pulled out.'

But just why are both teams now pulling out just weeks away from the new streamlined 12-round WRC?

The move is being touted as withdrawl due to the economic downturn. However, there may be another reason.

The recent World Motor Sport Council meeting confirmed that the WRC will become a Super 2000-based series from 2010, ridding the series of the World Rally Car.

The decision meant that every manufacturer would be forced to introduce a new car for 2010, including Subaru who only entered their new Impreza mid-way through the 2008 season.

But it has been a disaster. Both Petter Solberg and Chris Atkinson have come nowhere near to competing with Citroen or Ford.

Indeed, Suzuki have shown better form in only their first year in the WRC.

Subaru had signed up for the 2009 season before their dramatic and unexpected about-turn on Tuesday, leaving Solberg and Atkinson out of a job, although they too had signed up for next season.

Subaru were even talking about perhaps bringing back Marcus Gronholm next year as late as last weekend, but have obviously decided to write off the 2009 season and withdraw. Even now they are making noises about rejoining in 2010.

Prodrive, who ran the Subaru world rally cars, were hoping to push ahead with the development of the car ahead of next season and were planning to run four cars in 2009.

My understanding, however, is that there will be a Subaru presence at Rally Ireland next month. Prodrive, who ran the Subaru team, are likely to run an M2 team or year-old car set-up in Ireland.

Who will drive them has yet to be announced but Atkinson thought it was 'unlikely' that he would be competing on Rally Ireland, but added that he had not yet discussed the matter with anybody at the team's UK headquarters.

Ford and Citroen are now the only two manufacturers left in the championship, but Ford believes the WRC is still the way to go for them.

'We are naturally disappointed to learn of the withdrawal of both Japanese manufacturers, Suzuki and Subaru, from the FIA World Rally Championship,' read a Ford statement this week.

'Ford announced during Rally GB earlier this month that we will participate in 2009 and we look forward to renewing our challenge with the Ford Focus RS WRC for both the manufacturers' and drivers' championships.

'Involvement in the WRC benefits Ford in various ways. It provides a big impetus to our product reputation and sales, especially for the Focus.

'For Ford to demonstrate our products in a successful way, on a global basis via television and the internet, through involvement in the World Rally Championship represents good value. The WRC continues to represent the pinnacle of our motorsport ladder of opportunity,' it added.

I spoke to representative of Citroen at Rally GB, who assured me that they had to budget in place for next year and would be at Rally Ireland.

With the news of the scrapping of the World Rally Cars in 2010, it means that 2009 is a transition year and reshaping of the WRC.

Manufacturers like FIAT, Volkswagen and Peugeot are likley to come back in for 2010 with the new regulations in place and the hope is that Subaru will rejoin Citroen and Ford.

Just what kind of entry Rally Ireland will get is now the question.

'I'm quietly confident,' said Naylor.

'Hotels are filling up and accommodation take-up is excellent in the Sligo and surrounding area. Entries have been slow enough to come in, but that is the nature of our sport. I remain confident.

'Budgets are always tight. We have what is necessary to run the event and there is no problem there. We are okay.'

Let's hope so.