BMW Sales Drop and Honda Pulls Out of Formula 1 Racing

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

During the Great Depression, the number of US car makers shrank by over half, IIRC. Some of those that survived were too weak to make it past the end of WWII.

And so it goes.

2

I’d heard rumors Honda was pulling out of F1, so I’m not surprised. IIRC, they spent something north of $200 million on their F1 program last year. I’m not a huge F1 fan, so I don’t follow the details that closely, but it’ll be interesting to see what happens in auto racing in the next few years. Sort of related, I read a quote by Tony George in which he implied that if the IRL isn’t profitable by the end of 2012, there won’t be a 2013 (for his series – or maybe he was threatening to blow up the world and simply prevent 2013 from happening at all).

3

The figures I’ve heard for Honda have been north of $500 million, and that if they could, they’d have put over a billion into it.

Audi’s pulling out of the American Le Mans series.

4

I hadn’t heard $500 million for Honda; but neither will I doubt it. I have heard more than a few times over the last few years Ferarri was putting $500 million + into their F1 program, so Honda spending that much isn’t really a stretch to me.

Audi pulling out is a bit of a surprise though. According to your link, they’re going to concentrate on Le Man 24-hour.