Suzuki World Rally Team confirm withdrawal from 2009 WRC
Suzuki to suspend the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) activities
Suzuki Motor Corporation has decided to suspend the FIA World Rally Championship activities from 2009. The company made the 2008 season entry with two SX4 WRCs.
In responding to the contraction of the automotive sales caused by recent global economic turmoil, Suzuki has been promptly taking possible countermeasures including the reassessment of its global production output.
The company, however, foresees the shrinking trend in longer periods of time
rather than a short-term phenomenon. To secure its own business environment
for tomorrow, the organization reviews every aspect of the operations and
decided to focus on the core business functions such as the manufacturing system, environment technologies, and development of new-generation
powertrains. As a result, Suzuki concluded to suspend the WRC activities
from 2009.
Suzuki started to participate in the Junior World Rally Championship (JWRC)
in 2002 with Ignis Super 1600 and achieved the driver's victories two times
in the history. Afterwards, the company moved up to the WRC field in 2008.
The entry to JWRC and WRC brought a great deal of positive effects on the
product development and marketing activities, nurturing the high sporty
automotive brand image, especially in Europe.
Suzuki will continue to support the customers who are participating in the
JWRC, and local motor sport such as Swift Cup with Swift Super 1600 machines
in Europe and the rest of the world.
Suzuki expresses its great appreciation to sponsors and fans around the
world for their strong support to its activities. The company will continue
to provide valued products for its customers by utilizing the experiences
earned through the JWRC and WRC activities.
Article and images Suzuki Press
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I am sad to see Suzuki pull out as it would not have taken long to get the sx4 up to winning standard. I’m Suzuki mad and am happy to see my video being used on this site as a tribute to their 2008 season.I posted the video on youtube only to hear two days later that they had pulled out.Hope we will see them back sometime.