Which Manufacturer do you want back in WRC?

[Simmpa]

I have a feeling Subaru will be the popular choice, I decided not to include Lancia as they simply no longer exist.

 

[twitcher]

Why does it have to be "back"? Why not include Mercedes, or Honda, or GM?

Also I think you forgot Nissan.

 

[Jimlaad43]

Easiest question ever

 

[05XR8]

I'm surprised Audi has a current car named S1 and it's not in WRC.

 

[Simmpa]

Why does it have to be "back"? Why not include Mercedes, or Honda, or GM?

Also I think you forgot Nissan.

Hard to make a poll and make a list of every manufacturer that exist. Also I didn´t knew Nissan was in WRC.

 

[EDK]

I have a feeling Subaru will be the popular choice, I decided not to include Lancia as they simply no longer exist.

I've changed your "Wich" to "Which" in the Thread and poll titles.

 

[mustafur]

Mazda:

 

[Silver Arrows]

Mazda

This. The 2 can easily be made into a legit WRC car.

In fact, there is a Mazda 3 that I believe that does Andros Ice Racing in France, but I don't think it is a factory effort:

 

[05XR8]

MZRacing do Ja

This. The 2 can easily be made into a legit WRC car.

In fact, there is a Mazda 3 that I believe that does Andros Ice Racing in France, but I don't think it is a factory effort:

MZRacing do Japan rallying.

 

[mustafur]

Idk how Subaru can get back into WRC anyway they don't make a car that is Subcompact.

 

[Peter.]

Mitsubishi killed themselves by essentially pulling out of motorsport. They should have never left WRC.

 

[SVT Cobra GT]

I'd have voted for about 5 manufacturers on there if I could, but had to go with Subaru. Most memorable liveries and probably competed with the nicest cars.

 

[boiltheocean]

Idk how Subaru can get back into WRC anyway they don't make a car that is Subcompact.

They're pretty close though. The Hyundai i20 has a wheelbase of 2,570mm which is only 80mm shorter than the current STI. To put it another way the STI has the same wheelbase as a Hyundai i30.

 

[JR98]

I'd love to see Subaru back if they used something similar to their classic livery.

 

[TheCracker]

Lancia.

 

[EDK]

Mitsubishi killed themselves by essentially pulling out of motorsport. They should have never left WRC.

That had a very solid following here in the US, which really had little to do with Rally.

They had a great reputation for making cars that stood apart from their competition.

In the 90's, you couldn't throw a rock without hitting at least 3 Eclipses.

Have a look at this long term trend on unit volume and market share here I was able to find. They had respectable market share of nearly 2% at one point, and fell to around half a percent, that's not sustainable.


Mitsubishi
All Models
Market
Share
2016 96.267 0,55%
2015 95.342 0,55%
2014 77.643 0,47%
2013 62.227 0,40%
2012 57.790 0,40%
2011 79.020 0,62%
2010 55.683 0,48%
2009 53.986 0,52%
2008 97.257 0,73%
2007 128.993 0,80%
2006 118.558 0,72%
2005 123.995 0,73%
2004 161.609 0,96%
2003 256.810 1,54%
2002 345.915 2,10%
2001 323.706 1,90%
2000 316.496 1,80%
1999 263.464 1,60%
1998 192.785 1,20%
1997 190.978 1,30%
1996 187.126 1,20%
1995 198.059 1,25%
1994 201.004 1,51%
1993 168.202 1,29%
1992 155.580 1,31%
1991 190.801 1,54%
1990 191.017 1,50%
1989 150.476 1,13%
1988 113.492 0,71%


At some point, they got lazy with model development, scaled back their marketing efforts, and fell into the trap of matching their competition rather than standing apart.

That's what killed Mitsubishi.

 

[Peter.]

Racing is marketing. Dropping out of WRC, which they were successful in, which sold them cars as well, was a mistake. Not the only one, but a mistake nonetheless. The fact that their best selling cars like the Eclipse and the Evolution are no more says a lot about their management. Can't wait to get an i-MiEV though, am I right?

 

[Silver Arrows]

Racing is marketing. Dropping out of WRC, which they were successful in, which sold them cars as well, was a mistake. Not the only one, but a mistake nonetheless. The fact that their best selling cars like the Eclipse and the Evolution are no more says a lot about their management. Can't wait to get an i-MiEV though, am I right?

Didn't they only drop out because WRC was starting to transition into their regs that basically made it only a game of subcompacts being the base of WRC cars?

 

[Simmpa]

Didn't they only drop out because WRC was starting to transition into their regs that basically made it only a game of subcompacts being the base of WRC cars?

Those tiny hatchbacks didn´t appear until 2011 and Mitsubishi pulled out after 2005 season

 

[Robin]

Forgot Opel on the list...

I could see them doing something interesting if they ever fancied a return, maybe with the new Astra.

Personally though I would really want Subaru to return.

 

[05XR8]

Besides, most people in North America didn't know what a Lancer was until that OZ version and Fast & Furious 2. The Eclipse GSX were well and good to get people involved in performance awd, but that's when the Lancer should have debuted. The Galant VR-4 wasn't cutting it with its goofy looks(compared to a Maxima, Cressida, Accord and Camry).

 

[prisonermonkeys]

There was an R5-specification Mirage competing in selected rounds of the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship last year, but it hasn't been homologated yet.

Dropping out of WRC, which they were successful in, which sold them cars as well, was a mistake.

Cars like the Lancer Evolution IX and Evolution X simply weren't competitive. Especially compared to the Evolution V and Evolution VI.

Idk how Subaru can get back into WRC anyway they don't make a car that is Subcompact.

Anything under 3.9 metres in length is permitted under the rules now.

 

[EDK]

Racing is marketing. Dropping out of WRC, which they were successful in, which sold them cars as well, was a mistake. Not the only one, but a mistake nonetheless. The fact that their best selling cars like the Eclipse and the Evolution are no more says a lot about their management. Can't wait to get an i-MiEV though, am I right?

Here in the US, rally means little, and they still failed. That was my point.

We are basically an isolated control, and it didn't matter, they still failed.

 

[TheElbows]

Trick question because the answer is: Mitsubishi AND Subaru. A great rivalry which deserves to continue.

 

[GOTMAXPOWER]

Cars like the Lancer Evolution IX and Evolution X simply weren't competitive. Especially compared to the Evolution V and Evolution VI.

A production-based Group N car won less rallies overall than top class Group A cars? Great insight.

 

[mustafur]

The Evo VI was a proper freak of a car, winning the title under inferior Group A regs vs the next gen WRC machinery.

 

[ShiftingGears]

Mitsubishi killed themselves by essentially pulling out of motorsport. They should have never left WRC.

You can hardly blame them - after introducing a car built to WRC regulations (and not Group A) they didn't win a rally in three full seasons.

 

[Liquid]

Opel
Mazda
Lancia
Audi
Škoda

 

[AMPMROCKETFANN]

Forgot Opel on the list...

View attachment 630122

I could see them doing something interesting if they ever fancied a return, maybe with the new Astra.

Personally though I would really want Subaru to return.

They might come back if Peugeot feels like using that as a way to get exposure

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Peugeot won't return so long as Citroën are there.