Mr Slim with the Fat Pockets

Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, the world's second richest man, has rescued the Honda Formula One team, Italian newspaper La Stampa reported on Saturday.

"The saviour has arrived: Carlos Slim, 67 years old, the second richest man in the world," said the newspaper.

"The news is not official as all the details have yet to be formalised. But two things are certain - the team has been saved and the drivers will be Jenson Button and rookie Bruno Senna in place of Rubens Barrichello."

Honda first competed in F1 in 1964 and clocked up three Grand Prix wins, including Jenson Button's in Hungary in 2006.

Honda Motor also supplied engines and other technical support to Formula One team Super Aguri, which called it quits due to financial problems in May.

Motorsport in Japan had been particularly hit by the recession with Subaru and Suzuki pulling out of the world rally championship.

Q.... Thank god for good Corporate Cannabalism.^^

Suzuki Swiftly Suspends

Suzuki's calling it Quits.

Too.

Suzuki became the second Japanese motorsport giant to withdraw from a motor racing discipline on Monday after announcing they would not compete in the 2009 world rally championship largely because of the present financial crisis.

The decision follows a disappointing season in which they finished fifth out of six in the constructors championship and after Honda announced they were withdrawing from Formula One.

"The company, however, foresees the shrinking trend in longer periods of time rather than a short-term phenomenon.

"To secure its own business environment for tomorrow, the organization reviews every aspect of the operations and decided to focus on the core business functions such as the manufacturing system, environment technologies, and development of new-generation powertrains.

"As a result, Suzuki concluded to suspend the WRC activities from 2009."

However, Suzuki have always struggled on account of inadequate funding into development of the car since they made their debut in the 2007 Rally of Corsica. ~MSN news

***

2 Motor sport giants quiting their niche agendas within weeks of each other.

***While, the big US carmakers are on the verge of complete collapse.

We'll be reverting to bullock carts soon.

Who needs electric, hybrids or alternative fuelled cars now?

Q... less money . More Clean Air, eh?


>>(As long as Subaru doesn't quit the WRC and Ferrari doesnt either for F1, there's still some action there. Somewhere. Erm, let's not jinx it.)

One for All F1 for None

Honda is quiting F1.

A racing Dynasty has come to an end.

The all-new Honda City; too expensive for its own good.

Honda has announced that it was pulling out of Formula One due to the global financial crisis, raising further concerns over the notoriously expensive sport's future.

Honda Motor president Takeo Fukui made the announcement at an emotional press conference, repeatedly apologising to fans, staff, drivers and F1 authorities.

"Honda Motor Co. has come to the conclusion that we will withdraw from all Formula One activities, making 2008 the last season for participation," Fukui said.
"This difficult decision has been made in light of the quickly deteriorating operating environment facing the global auto industry, brought on by the subprime problem in the United States, the deepening credit crisis and the sudden contraction of the world economies,"

he added.

Honda has been involved with F1 since 1964 and has clocked up three wins, including Jenson Button's in Hungary in 2006. ~MSN news

See, what they should do ... is to stop over-paying their F1 Drivers.

Q ... Honda is synoymoous with F1 . End of an exciting Era.

F-1 and F*** This.

This year's show was totally over shadowed by the much hyped about F1.

And you thought its only the marketing people doing a lack lustre job.

Actually, there's more to it.

IT STINKS.

BIG TIME.

Unlike previous years with the super cars and awe-inspiring concepts spread over 2 massive levels of Motordom Heaven, this year's rubbish of a show only had Subaru taking centre stage with their various versions of the iconic Impreza and its much awaited (but, now we know, hardly worth waiting for) notchbacked version , Honda's all-new and all-important City , Nissan's new Murano SUV and Teana executive saloon and of course the much-raved-about Rinspeed fully- submersible Lotus.

8 bucks worth of yawn-inducing crappola.

2010 had better be a hit.

This year's a Miss.

Q