It is disappointing for road racing fans like us. However, racing is really expensive, especially at the upper tiers. Given what Chrysler has been though in the last 20 years with multiple changes in ownership and a bankruptcy, I imagine that cash is not exactly coming out of the woodwork. I can understand putting the cash into something else like an update to vehicles in the product line.
Its unfortunately pretty obvious that the Viper just isn't selling and dumping money into Tudor and even Le Mans just isn't going to help that right now. At some point you have to stop burning money, step back and regroup.
I suspect that the cars may show up next year with much of the team intact and running under private sponsorship with some "backdoor" factory support.
I am saddened that car companies are not into the racing for the racing's sake.
Yes build your business model for profitable minivans and CUVs. But race because you want too not because it makes great marketing. Unfortunately, the Chrysler guys never seemed to have that view. Mazda had a solid business inflow due to Mazda Motorsports/MazdaSpeed. They took the long view and it is working out.
Chrysler never had the guts to support the Neon racing efforts for 20+ years. Or invest in the Viper racing from the view of a 40 year commitment to build the Viper into a name that is clearly on par with 911 or Audi R8/R10 in racing lore. The Chrysler LeMans prototype was just starting to turn the corner to do good things when it got canned.
I think they are making themselves look worse from these half hearted efforts than if they just stayed out of it all together.
I wouldn't point fingers at SRT, the command is likely coming much higher up the chain with Fiat ownership leaning on various aspects of the company. SRT has clearly made a serious effort, putting a class winning car on track.
It may be hard to defend the line item to the likes of Marchionne by the decision makers upstream.
unevolved wrote:06HHR wrote: In reply to unevolved: Even if you are actively looking for the races on TV they are hard to find. No Fox sports 2 for me unless I switch to satellite.. It's either streaming or tape delay on Fox Sports 1, if then.. The Tudor TV package is teh suxxors..Right? Seems like it's hard for any racing. I had to give up on watching F1 this year because we moved and I can't get NBCSN without paying out the ass. No other ways to watch online or anything, I don't understand why they think that sort of thing sells channels.
It seems every racing series goes with whoever offers them the most money. Unfortunately, the content channels like NBCSN are less interested in streaming individual programs than they are at forcing cable providers to take their channels.
If we want racing to be streamed, it'll take someone with the ballz and business plan to get financial backers to make a bid to broadcast a racing series. It'll take time, but I think it's getting there as more streaming shows attract viewers and sponsorship dollars.
I'm sad to see SRT leave, but with the current sales figures it's understandable. It's a shame as it seems the Viper is a cool car and much improved over previous models.
Along this same news, I read a rumor that Ford may be getting back into the endurance racing game to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the GT40 Le Mans wins.
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