Rate it!

1 votes

After Toyota announced their departure from Formula One, here are the other recent departures from motorsport.

Nov 4 - Japanese manufacturer Toyota announce immediate departure, saying it was a "very difficult but unavoidable decision" due to the economic climate.

Nov 2 - Japan's Bridgestone, F1's sole tyre supplier, says it will pull out when its contract expires at the end of 2010.

Sept 24 - Renault title sponsor ING withdraws with immediate effect after the team were handed a suspended permanent ban for involvement in a race-fixing scandal. The Dutch-based financial group had been due to pull out at the end of the year.

Sept 21 - Renault team boss Flavio Briatore handed life ban for involvement in Brazilian Nelson Piquet Jr's deliberate crash at 2008 Singapore GP. Team's engineering head Pat Symonds barred for five years. Both had already left.

July 29 - BMW announce their exit at the end of 2009 as a team and engine supplier.

July 7 - Toyota-owned Fuji circuit gives up hosting rights to Japanese Grand Prix from 2010. The track had been due to alternate with Honda-owned Suzuka.

Feb 4 - Mitsubishi Motors withdraw from the Dakar Rally due to financial situation. The company had won the event a record seven times in a row.

Jan 19 - Credit Suisse decide not to renew sponsorship of BMW-Sauber.

Jan 9 - Kawasaki announce their departure from MotoGP.

2008

Dec 16 - Former champions Subaru withdraw from World Rally Championship. Suzuki had announced their exit the day before.

Dec 5 - Honda pull out of F1, putting their British-based team up for sale. It re-emerges after a management buyout as Brawn GP and, with Mercedes engines, goes on to win both titles in 2009.

May 6 - Honda-backed Super Aguri withdraw from F1 due to financial problems.

Reuters