Go Back   i-Club > Motorsports & Competition > Rally
Sign in using an external account
Register Forgot Password?
Register Photos FAQ Members Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read ExperienceUsed CarsGarageVendors TSB & Recalls
Welcome to i-Club

Reply
 
 
 
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 10-20-2003, 11:10 AM   #1
Registered User
Personal Sales Rating: (4)
 
dropkick_muppet's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: your friendly neighborhood hairpin
Drives : '03 PSM Sedan
Posts: 2,342
Send a message via AIM to dropkick_muppet
Unhappy Ford's future in WRC uncertain?

uh-oh, on top of all the new rules it looks like there might be one more manufacturer dropping out of the WRC or contesting a limited schedule:

http://www.wrc.com/en_GB/News/2003/0...rdDecision.htm

i'd hate to see Marko Martin and Francious Duval out of the WRC due to budget problems. financial issues seem to have plagued Ford for the last couple of years. They dumped Sainz and McRae because of money issues, and had a hard time getting the new Focus developed. hopefully they'll work something out, and be able to compete during the whole season next year.
Offline
 
Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2003, 11:40 AM   #2
@Stoptech
Personal Sales Rating: (5)
 
Steppin Razor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: San Francisco, CA
Drives : 2002 WRX Wagon
Posts: 2,416
forget ford, i heard subaru was thinking about dropping out due to the rule changes!!!!

probably just politics, but sheeit. that would suck ***.

and i don't foresee marko martin having any trouble finding a new ride. i think skoda's looking for drivers. i think martin would team up well with tina turner... can you say roadhead?
Offline
 
Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2003, 11:56 AM   #3
Registered User
Personal Sales Rating: (4)
 
dropkick_muppet's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: your friendly neighborhood hairpin
Drives : '03 PSM Sedan
Posts: 2,342
Send a message via AIM to dropkick_muppet
i haven't heard anything about Subaru dropping out due to rule changes, but you're right, that would be a much bigger concern than ford anyday. my guess is that it's just a public complaint about not getting something that they wanted in the 2004 season, but i thought it was worth mentioning.

if ford did drop out, i think it would be hard for Martin to find a new ride. McRae hasn't found a new ride for next year, and with teams only running two car, i don't know where a seat would open up.
Offline
 
Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2003, 12:07 PM   #4
Registered User
Personal Sales Rating: (25)
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: San Jose
Drives : 2005 Cadillac CTS-V
Posts: 1,900
Points: 12,462, Level: 73
Points: 12,462, Level: 73 Points: 12,462, Level: 73 Points: 12,462, Level: 73
Level up: 3%, 388 to go!
Level up: 3% Level up: 3% Level up: 3%
Daily Activity: 0%
Daily Activity: 0% Daily Activity: 0% Daily Activity: 0%
Well that's okay. Let Ford drop out. We could sign Marko Martin instead of Richard Burns and we would have one hell of a team.

Petter Solberg and Marko Martin. OH YEAH!!!!

Kurlee Daddee
(THE ORIGINAL)
Offline
 
Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2003, 12:38 PM   #5
VIP Member
Personal Sales Rating: (7)

 
eastbaysubaru's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: No So Co
Drives : '00 BRP RS Sedan / '04 PSM FXT (RIP)
Posts: 3,823
Points: 12,573, Level: 73
Points: 12,573, Level: 73 Points: 12,573, Level: 73 Points: 12,573, Level: 73
Level up: 31%, 277 to go!
Level up: 31% Level up: 31% Level up: 31%
Daily Activity: 6.6%
Daily Activity: 6.6% Daily Activity: 6.6% Daily Activity: 6.6%
Send a message via AIM to eastbaysubaru Send a message via Yahoo to eastbaysubaru Send a message via Skype™ to eastbaysubaru
All you guys talking **** about Burns. He'll fit right in next year. As for Ford, I just read the same thing on WRC.com. I have a hard time buying that story. I can understand though, adding two rallies is going to be quite a bit more expensive, although the lack of the gravel car/crew will cut down on that expense somewhat. I really like Ford in the WRC and with their history in the sport, I think they really want to be there as well. At least Malcolm does

-Brian
Offline
 
Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2003, 02:47 PM   #6
Registered User
Personal Sales Rating: (4)
 
dropkick_muppet's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: your friendly neighborhood hairpin
Drives : '03 PSM Sedan
Posts: 2,342
Send a message via AIM to dropkick_muppet
Malcolm Wilson definitely wants to be in the WRC, but he is the director of the program, not the bean counter. it'd be a shame to see them drop out, as it would mean less competition, and worse racing for the fans.

now, as for signing Marko Martin to Subaru, i have two thoughts:

1) hell yeah! he'd be quick, and it'd be fun to watch him drive the WRC impreza.

2) he used to drive for Subaru!
Offline
 
Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2003, 05:46 PM   #7
Registered User
Personal Sales Rating: (2)
 
Magish's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Mountains
Drives : 2007 Nissan Frontier
Posts: 4,650
Send a message via AIM to Magish
That would be a shame if Ford dropped out... i dont like them much but it would be a big loss to the amount of competition in WRC
Cheers
-jeff
Offline
 
Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2003, 07:02 PM   #8
Registered User
Personal Sales Rating: (0)
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 390
I'd really hate to see Ford drop out, they have such a long history in rallying. Ford is my second favorite team behind you know who. The new Focus has been doing really well, and of course Martin and Duvall are talented young future stars. You would think that with all the money Ford pours into motorsports, they could spare a few million for the WRC, which is growing in popularity every year.

BTW, with VW's considerable coffers behind them, why can't Skoda do a little better?!? With Hyundai out, the WRC can't afford any also-ran teams. I'm glad Mitsu is returning, without some more competition, it looked like the WRC was going to become an all French affair.
Offline
 
Reply With Quote
Old 10-29-2003, 06:40 PM   #9
Soup Nazi
Guest
Personal Sales Rating:
 
Posts: n/a
Ford is doing the right thing, jerking the FIA around for a while.
  Reply With Quote
Old 10-29-2003, 06:40 PM
I-Club
Subaru WRX




Paid Advertisement
 
 
 
Reply

Tags
badget, ford, wrc


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


 




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 03:03 AM.


Powered by: vBulletin Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2013, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
SEO by vBSEO ©2010, Crawlability, Inc.

-= NOT AUTHORIZED OR APPROVED BY OR AFFILIATED WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA OR FUJI HEAVY INDUSTRIES LTD. =-