It is sad to see some of these great name pulling out of the sport but there maybe a positive outcome - better racing.
Lower budgets mean that the gaps between the front and back of the grid (whatever form of motorsport) should get smaller.

It's official - Subaru have withdrawn

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport1/hi/motorsport/world_rally/7785299.stm

thats a valid point dm, it should mean races down to driver skill, which would favour hamilton etc. however, racing sport is no longer about just drivers. its a competiton between engineers and all members of the research teams to discover and improve the aerodynamics and engines etc....it will be sad to lose this.