Quote Originally Posted by AL14 View Post
Very nice numbers. No 2008 crisis for them! I bet that's a better curve than other manufacturers
’08 recession effects appeared a bit later in Europe. If you see those numbers, sales decline started in 2011 and there’s a huge drop in 2012 (the years Pug leaved LeMans and Ford quit WRC) and only last year they’ve managed to get over 3M units again.

About motorsport effect on sales: they surely happen in a positive way, even if it’s hard to quantify, but the first purpose for manus to get involved is the brand image they want to reflect on costumers.

The Quattro wasn’t a best seller but it did wonders for Audi image all over the world. The opposite can be said about Lancia; from the day Fiat decided to leave WRC, Lancia brand went into severe crisis.

Biggest surprise to me was Toyota return to WRC; despite their focus on Hybrid cars (and LM/WEC involvement), they were brave enough to enter a series that still doesn’t embrace cleaner tech but is, by far, the most exciting and demanding motorsport form any car maker can compete. Well done Toyota!