No more motor sport .......?

[Senninha]

Well maybe the heading is a bit drastic, but will there be much motor sport left to watch next year?

Honda have quit F1 and the rumour mill suggests another team may go or merge with 'Honda' to form a better team

Suzuki have quit WRC

Seat have quit Touring Cars

Subari has announced today that it is quiting WRC too.

Audi are reviewing their LM involvement so may not be at LeMans etc

Who are next and in which discipline?

Excessive spend in motorsport, especially to the scale some of the guys were investing is an obvious target for immediate cost control. However, my concern is that if they dont redirect some of the saved $$ into marketing, they will loose further sales and ultimately close the doors.

Lets hope that the marketting budgets are already being lined up for car sales to get a much needed boost ....

[JQD84983]

I think it is inevitable given just how dramatic the sales decline has been. I have been over in Germany for the past month and BMW, Mercedes and Audi are crestfallen by the cliff their sales volumes have fallen off.

I don't think this will be the end of it either. If Ford are still struggling in US nd only them and Citroen are left in WRC I think they may go too. The terrestrial TV coverage in the UK now seems not existant!

[Kevin]

Le Mans should have a fuel cell class. Honda can be the only entrant and win it.

[markc]

Paul, you have highlighted the problem with major car manufacturers becoming involved in motorsport, they want everything thier own way when they're "playing" and attempt to outspend each other to be at the front of the grid BUT they have no allegience to motorsport per see and either take their metaphorical ball home as it suits them or they pull the plug when times get hard for them.

Rest assured there'll be plenty of motorsport to watch but the grids might be a bereft of big names and properly competitive vehicles until things settle down.

The motorsports governing bodies (FIA etc) should take note and not bow to the manufacturers desires as much in future.

It'll be nice to see Williams and Cosworth back at the front of the F1 grid. Who knows maybe the drivers will even be allowed to race hard like they used to

Cheers

Mark

[BlueNSX]

It'll be nice to see Williams and Cosworth back at the front of the F1 grid. Who knows maybe the drivers will even be allowed to race hard like they used to

Williams and Cosworth at the front, where's my sickbag.

[markc]

Williams and Cosworth at the front, where's my sickbag.

Spoken like a true Ferrari fan

[markc]

Le Mans should have a fuel cell class. Honda can be the only entrant and win it.

I bet they (the ACO) do introduce that or a similar class

The ACO, who organise the Le Mans 24Hr race, have a long history of allowing alternative engine types. A diesel first competed in the late '40s, gas turbines (Rover) in the '60s and of course Johnny Herbert took the rotary engined mazda to victory in 1991.

"Group C" in the '80s was essentially a fuel efficiency formula, they intoduced a biofuel class a few years ago and now they have the Michelin sponsored Energy Endurance Challenge (MEEC).

Sadly a fuel cell powered, electric motor driven car will sound even less inspiring than dull diesels that have been winning for the last 3 years

Mark

[Senninha]

Sadly a fuel cell powered, electric motor driven car will sound even less inspiring than dull diesels that have been winning for the last 3 years

Mark

Shouldn't have to worry about the near silent diesels, with Audi out I'd be surprised if Peugeot dont follow .....

[278kmh]

Le Mans should have a fuel cell class. Honda can be the only entrant and win it.

ou yes that will be a great "motor"sport, sounding: ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

[Kevin]

Shouldn't have to worry about the near silent diesels, with Audi out I'd be surprised if Peugeot dont follow .....

Where have you read that? I have only seen Audi pulling out of the American LM series to concentrate on European racing. They have the R15 developed for 2009.