Subaru pulls out of WRC

Another day, another automaker leaving a competitive series: Subaru's parent group, Fuji Heavy Industries, announced today that it will with draw from the FIA World Rally Championship at the end of the 2008 season. Subaru, which to many has become synonymous with world rallying, cited "quick deterioration of the global economy" as its justification for pulling out of the rally circuit.

Subaru, supported by motorsports engineering group Prodrive, had competed for 19 years in the series. The Impreza WRX available to consumers is a direct byproduct of that experience.

The automaker won three manufacturer's championships and three driver's championships during its WRC history.

Subaru will continue to support teams that compete in the P-WRC and Group N categories, but it will not run a full-scale WRC effort in 2009.

The automaker's plans beyond 2009 remain up in the air.

In recent weeks, Suzuki has pulled out of WRC, Porsche has exited the American Le Mans Series, as has Audi and Honda has quit Formula 1,