New year starts badly for motorsport
Following on from the news that Honda has withdrawn for Formula One racing is another nail in the World Championship coffin in the shape of a Subaru Impreza WRC machine.
The World Rally Team that employs Petter Solberg, and top Welsh co-driver Phil Mills announced earlier this week that it will play no part in the 2009 World Rally Championship, throwing the sport into confusion over the fate of the Prodrive Team overseen by Welshman Dave Richards, the now former group charged with responsibility for campaigning the Japanese manufacturers cars on the world stage.
Ironically, Richards was formerly associated with F1 via the Benetton and British American Racing teams, also initially successful in securing a grid slot from the FIA for his emergent Prodrive F1 team , only to fall foul of a number of rules and other teams' reluctance over his planned association with McLaren.
Those complications resulted in the Welsh team owner withdrawing from the F1 frenzy for 2008 and considering a return for 2009.
The Honda withdrawal from F1 has started speculation that Richards could emerge as a buyer for the team and facilitate his triumphant — in the boardroom if not as yet on track —arrival on the grid for the 2009 FIA World F1 Championship.
Some have further speculated that these factors may have influenced Fuji Heavy Industries — owners of the Subaru car manufacturing business — to pull the plug on a WRC campaign amid fears that a Prodrive F1 effort would compromise development of the 2009 Impreza S15 model rally car, and prevent an improvement of the relatively poor performances of the Impreza S14 experienced throughout the 2008 WRC season.
Others feel that the withdrawal is purely financial, the Subaru WRC budget some £15m — and Solberg himself reportedly on a £4.5 million yearly salary — and that FHI were likely to have made 2009 their final season come what may.
Subaru had made two entries in the 2009 WRC for the Impreza S15, but there will be virtually insurmountable difficulties in getting the model accepted for the new season without manufacturer input and, of course, the 2008 car has proved largely unsuccessful at WRC level.
That said, Richards himself still sees a future in the 2009 WRC for Prodrive.
He said: "We have customer teams to support throughout 2009, and with new regulations likely for 2010 that will cut the costs of competing at WRC level we have to see how we can adapt and go forward.
"We have been with Subaru for some 20 years and if a 2010 model car was viable for them to go forward in the WRC then we'd be with them, but it's got to be financially viable for us as well.''
It is known that Richards was unhappy with the speed and manner of the Subaru withdrawal from the WRC.
REGULATIONS and entry forms for the 2009 Get Connected Wyedean Forest Rally, which takes place on February 7, are now available to download from the event website at www.wyedeanrally.com
The 34th running of the popular rally sees Abergavenny-based mobile phone company Get Connected once again take on the mantle of headline sponsor — a position it has held since 2006.
In the interim, the company has actually opened three shops in the Forest of Dean area itself, and the company principal Damian Cole has emerged as a rally driver of repute, currently driving a Hyundai Accent WRC machine.
The start and finish of the event will be at Piercefield Park, Chepstow Racecourse, and, to round off the proceedings, the awards presentation will also be held there during the evening.
Seven special stages, totalling 45 miles, await competitors and the first of up to a maximum of 180 starters will set off at 8am on the Saturday morning.
The Wyedean is a qualifying round of a number of major rally championships and, as competitors seek to gain an early advantage in their chosen series, take-up is expected to be high. Meanwhile, the survivors of what is always a tough, but enjoyable, day's motorsport begin arriving back at the Racecourse from 2.40pm that afternoon.
The entries secretary, from whom printed regulations are available, is Lilian Turley on (01594) 810161 or email lilianturley@btinternet.com
IN Wales organisers are preparing for the new season with vigour, mindful that continuing difficult economic times may affect entries on events.
Meanwhile, the MSA Welsh National Championship has amended its scoring structure to permit registered competitors to score an additional five points for each round of the series entered.
Damian Cole will be going for his third consecutive victory in the major Welsh series, his Hyundai Accent WRC surely among the contenders for the Championship, that in 2008 saw around 25 drivers fighting it out.
The Quinton Stages will not be included in the series, which now reverts to an eight round battle.
The Welsh Association has lost the sponsor of the Welsh Clubmans Forest Rally Championship, Yokohama Tyres, who pulled out before Christmas.
However, the WAMC is reported as saying the seven round series will continue, even if a new backer does not materialise.
Comment on this story