Subaru have become the latest team to withdraw from next year's World Rally Championship (WRC), as the economic downturn continues to hit motorsport hard. It comes after Suzuki also quit the WRC and Honda withdrew from Formula One. "This sudden decision is a response to the widespread downturn affecting the industry," Subaru said in a statement.

The team was established in 1989, when the manufacturer teamed up with Prodrive, a motorsport and automotive engineering group with dealings in the UK, Thailand and Australia.
"Subaru's departure from the World Rally Championship is a great loss as it is one of the sport's icons," added Prodrive chairman David Richards.

Subaru won six world titles in all, with the last coming with Solberg's victory in 2003. But recent years have been harder going for Subaru, with their last rally win coming in Mexico back in 2005. Subaru's exit leaves just two manufacturers in next year's championship in the shape of Citroen and Ford.