I was right, sadly.
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08 / Jan / 20
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The arrival of hybridization and the possibility of creating tubular chassis brings the manufacturer closer to a land they already know well
The siren songs are real. From Autosport Japan they already talk about the real possibility of Subaru's return to the World Rally Championship and even provide details that speak of a model, coach and even the pilot who would be the spearhead of his project.
Many may think that 2022 (the date on which the Japanese firm would theoretically enter the WRC) is too far away, but it is the necessary period to launch a project with guarantees, just as another car giant arrived from the country did. of the 'Rising Sun', Toyota.
The change in regulation, which in principle caused the departure of the PSA group (then complemented with the departure of Sébastien Ogier after an abrupt end of the 2019 season), can make other brands such as Subaru itself to bet on rallies again. And it is that whoever weighs, electrification and the hybrid world (in the case of the World Cup would be a unique supplier of this system for everyone) come to stay. They have already done it on circuits and now it seems that the road is going to outdoor tests, rallies and raids.
WS000002 Therefore, rumors of the possible entry of Subaru, coming from his own country and with the constant run-run of the North American market with Oliver Solberg (the son of the 2003 World Champion) and his arrival at the WRC-2 with The Polo are nothing more than the realization that something is moving in the firm.
From Autosport Japan, as is evident, they go further. They talk about the interest in having a coach in the purest M-Sport style to take charge of the project and although they don't give names, they talk about Petter Solberg (again) as a possible recipient of the assignment with Xavier Demaison as a fundamental part of this path. Both have already agreed in the WRC with Subaru and the good connection between them was evident.
As for the model, few doubts. The ability to develop a tubular chassis makes the Subaru XV win whole, for the headache of an amateur. As for the regulations, it is said that some alternative to Japanese mechanics should be sought, but there should be no problems to adapt to the new regulations, more with the need for new brands to arrive.
The end of the Japanese media article puts calm to expectations talking about the low possibilities of carrying out this new project, but ... when the river sounds (and sounds a lot), water carries.
https://www.laregion.es/articulo/mas...543917966.html
Subaru of America (USA) paid for the company's rally team and Oliver Solberg was a convenient newcomer. He could come learn in a safe environment and SOA got some star power and a good driver to draw some extra fans. They haven't confirmed a team this year and their regular driver (David Higgins) has his own schedule that doesn't include US events. SOA may pay for a season or maybe not. Subaru Canada still offers lots of contingencies but stopped fielding their own rally team a few years ago.
If Subaru can get the Solberg family to set up a shop ala Makinen more power to them, but nothing from North America should be an indicator of this. Plus after following Subaru news in Japanese enthusiast magazines for twenty years you get kind of skeptical of anything they publish.
https://www.rallit.fi/teemu-suniselt...ikan-arvoinen/
Suninen tells about his experience of recceing Rally Japan candidate event, saying it's the slowest rally he has seen during his career. "Quite exotic rally. Some extremely slow roads, you have to drive long sections on gears 1 and 2."
FIA updated the homologation list:
https://www.fia.com/sites/default/fi..._janv.2020.pdf
New jokers (all registered 1/12)
MSport - engine
Toyota - engine
Hyundai - engine + "general" (guess that means diffuser +exhaust and likely the scoop as well)
Citroen C3 WRC - engine (also on 1st December)
Toyota launch is tomorrow at Tokyo AutoSalon.