Suzuki finished fifth last year
Suzuki has pulled out of world rallying due to the global economic downturn, it has been reported. The carmaker only survived one season in the World Rally Championship having started in the junior WRC in 2002.
In a statement the Japanese manufacturer said it had ‘decided to focus on the core business functions’. Like Honda, which recently withdrew from F1, Suzuki said its decision was based on the recent economic crisis.
‘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,’ said Suzuki's statement.
‘To secure its own business environment for tomorrow, the organisation 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.’