Wednesday 4th February 2009

Mitsubishi Withdraws from Dakar

Economic conditions force champions out of the fray

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Mitsubishi last won the Dakar in 2007

Mitsubishi announced today that its works team will no longer field cars in cross-country rallies, including the Dakar rally and the Dakar Series.

Mitsubishi Motorsport works cars have entered the Dakar 26 times, winning 12 times and boasting a run of seven consecutive victories between 2001 and 2007, only recently broken by Volkswagen's Touareg.

A press release states that global economic conditions are to blame, forcing the company to 'focus its resources more tightly'.

The announcement comes four years after Mitsubishi officially withdrew from the WRC in 2005, though there have been periodic rumours of a return to rallying for the once highly-successful team. However as today's announcement sees the belt draw tighter, Mitsubishi's motorsport future looks increasingly under threat.

 

[willcrookz]

repost

[Olaf]

Sad news - very best of luck to Bernard L and everyone at Macon. Astonishing machines put together by top people.

[thepawbroon]

In better Mitsubishi-related rally news...

http://www.crash.net/Rally+UK/News/142619/1/mrec_b...

[life-in-old-dog]

The areodynamics look ideal for this years F1 rules - have I rumbled something?!

[nav p]

what a shame that this was not shown on normal TV...the Rally that is!

[pshooter]

life-in-old-dog said:

The areodynamics look ideal for this years F1 rules - have I rumbled something?!

That'd be awesome to see a fresh team in the F1

[Mr Fenix]

Another day, another Manufacturer tightens the purse strings...

[chuntington101]

very sad times for motorsport.

has anyone got any links or info on this Mitsubishi????

Chris.

[FishFace]

How much does it actually cost to run a team like this? I would logically think it would be pittance to a company like Mitsubishi when you consider many pies they finger. Obviously not.

[chuntington101]

/\/\/\/\accountants dont see it like that! lol

They just see it as a lump of money they dont NEED to be spending.