(Tue 16 Dec 08)

Subaru and Suzuki have announced that they will not be taking part in the 2009 World Rally Championship. Both have quoted the global economic downturn as the reason for their departure.

Neither was a leading player during the 2008 season. Suzuki had only just moved up to the premier category, for turbocharged four-wheel drive cars, and although Subaru's much longer involvement has earned the company six World titles, it was in the early stages of developing the new hatchback version of its Impreza.

All the same, this is a double whammy for the WRC, since it leaves only Citroen (this year's top manufacturer, with number one driver Sebastien Loeb once again dominating the field) and Ford in possible contention for 2009.

More positively, both companies say they will continue to support independent drivers, while Prodrive (which runs the Subaru team) says that new WRC regulations due to come into force in 2010 will provide it "with an opportunity to prepare for re-entering the championship with a new team".

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