what is happening to the subaru team the wrc

 

They're ****.

Hope that helped

Seriously though, I think Solberg has taken over from Colin "McCrash". He seems to crash far too often. Subaru have lost the edge that their rivals seem to have (Citren, Ford).
As much as I'm a Solberg fan, I think Subaru would benefit if the parted company, and drafted in new blood.

I also think that the tyres may have a lot to do with it. If Subaru moved to Goodrich tyres, I think their performance would improve.

Was watching it on ITV yesterday, and was thinking just how long it will be before Subaru pull out of the WRC, just like Mitsubishi did when they stopped winning.

 

Spoke to Norman who is a Rally Driver sponsored by Foresters in the West Midlands.

He also does Marshalling at WRC Rallys and spoke to the Subaru Team Drivers. He reckoned they said, it's the new shape.

Apparently it's a couple of inches taller than the previous shape and, this makes a bit of a difference. They reckoned if the had the old shape they could shave time off big time.

Norman is sound guy and, don't think he would make that up.

If this is true the old saying" If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Regards

Alan MaC

 

Pirelli are pulling out of the WRC at the end of this season, so Subaru will indeed have new rubber for next year!

 

I think this will make all the difference. The Pirelli/Subaru partnership has been failing for years.

IMO everyone accepts that the Pirellis are no good on tarmac and this just puts increased pressure on Solberg to perform on the loose surface rallys, like Finand, where he subsequetly fails under the pressure to perform.

Go Gigi Galli always exciting to watch.

 

That man needs a Works drive. Fantastic to watch

 

Bollocks

**** workmen always blame there tools.

Put me beind the wheel of a quater of a million £££ car and i'll get you a championship or two

 

After my slating of pirelli I now remember that he drives for team Pirelli Italy!

Doh!

 

A considered reply and i think partly true.

Solberg needs to be consistant and this is where he falls short. just signed a 4 year deal tho' I believe.

 

Pirrelli have invented a black grease like substance that thay have moulded into a round form - Remarkable really !!

As I've said in other threads at least the Subaru rally car resembles the road going version. How many 4 wheel drive turbocharged Citroens, Fords, etc, do you see driving about ??

And who would aspire to driving a Citroen ?? Not many !!

Some would call it cheating !!

 

It seems from going from 2 doors to 4 doors is the problem

 

I thought the handling on Solbergs car looked awful at the weekend, the fords, Citroens and even the old 206's looked really planted - over the jumps the Impreza just seemed to dive bigtime ffs

Can't be just tyres, something basic aint right with the new shape - even more than just the looks..........

 

[QUOTE=Alan MaC]Spoke to Norman who is a Rally Driver sponsored by Foresters in the West Midlands.

He also does Marshalling at WRC Rallys and spoke to the Subaru Team Drivers. He reckoned they said, it's the new shape.

Apparently it's a couple of inches taller than the previous shape and, this makes a bit of a difference. They reckoned if the had the old shape they could shave time off big time.

Norman is sound guy and, don't think he would make that up.

If this is true the old saying" If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

TOLD YOU IT WAS THE SHAPE

Even the Scooby Drivers Said So.

 

I thought the exact same thing.

Hirvonen (spell check) looked awsome on the jumps in his Focus.

 

I think the whole WRC has gone to pot.

The recent rule changes have not made it better, as some said it would, it's just lost some of the best drivers and made it less of a competition.

Something like 5m difference between 1st & 6th. In previous years it was a matter of seconds, making it a race to the finish, not cruising on Day 3.

 

I agree with the fact the rules should be changed to state that the drivetrain of the car a team decides to rally must resemble that of a road going car on sale.

Example: 4WD Fords etc..

Not only would it make rallying better, but also might force the manufacturers to get poteintial great cars on the road.. like a Focus RS 4WD.

 

tbh, I've not watched the WRC in ages. It's soooooo boring now Plus the fact that Subaru just aren't competetive anymore.

Solberg has never been the same since he won the World Championship. Seems like he's reached his goal and is quite content to sit back and enjoy the ride.

Even though I left Subaru-ownership early this year, I still like watching the cars, but there's even bigger problems with the WRC - the administration of it. Stupid rules, no real competition, poor viewing figures....

An unhappy cocktail........

Can't see it lasting tbh, unless something drastic is done.

Dan

 

Norman seems to be forgetting that Petter Solberg won the World Championship in 2003 using what is basically the current shape car.

 

At least it's not F1!

I have followed the WRC for probably 6 to 7 years now and it's not as exciting as when Burnsie, Tommi Mac and 'Mccrash' were about, but Galli, Hirvonen etc are all keeping it alive for me. I'm enjoying watching the likes of Matt Wilson and Guy Wilks and don't think the sport is in crisis. Suzuki and Cirtoen are comming back in 2007 so it looks like the sport will only grow from hereafter. Viewing figures have never been higher

Totally disagree that Solberg is happy to sit back having won the WRC. He looked like he was going to cry at the weekend when he crashed out!

 

Have to admit I'm gunning for Gronholm to win this year.

 

Top Tip, keep an eye out for Guy Wilks
He was spending quite a but of time around the Subaru camp in WRC Germany.

 

Guy Wilks ( )driving for SWRT in 2007 - That would be excellent!

 

a local lad (Darlington Area) driving for SUBARU would be good, he's talented too, cant do much worse than Petter,Stephane and Chris.

What about young chris meeke he did well in a scoob at last years WRC.

 

And crashed (again) while leading the JWRC in Finland.

Dont think he would be an improvement over Atkinson - and thats not saying much.

Subaru need a decent number 2 (or even 1 if they are better than Solberg), and time next year to get used to BF Goodrich.

The WRC has certainly gone down hill in the last couple of years but then again its had its "lean" times in the past and bounced back.

 

Dan your right

Tony

 

The rules IIRC were put in place to Help other manufactures compete in the WRC and stop 4WD like Audi Mitzzy and Subaru winning everthing. Also banned 6R4's....... all so the French could win it all.

So what help now from the WRC to the genuine 4WD car manufactures !!!!!! soon every car in the WRC will be of non 4WD origin

Now what ever did happen to that £10k deposit with no spec and release date, So Noooooooo takers then

IMHO

Tony

 

I feel a "25B" or a type R coming on!!

 

its alittle bit boring at the mo beacuse Seb Loeb is so strong - he never finishes any lower than 2nd most of the time. I was thrilled to know Pirelli are moving away from Subaru next year as they arnt competitve any more. Solberg still one of the top 4 drivers in the world, he is just having an off season and alot of bad luck - especially at the end of last year (Kangaroo, rock on the racing line that no one else had seen before the went through the stage!)

Im sure they will pull it back, the new car is unreliable and getting rid of David Lapworth was a bad idea after 20 odd years of service!

 

Totally agree MickeyWRX.

Sounds like someone who actually knows whats going on in the WRC

If it's next year that Citroen change to the C4 then, bearing in mind all competitiors will have BF Goodrich tyres, I think it could be Subaru's year.

Solberg never has any luck. His car is constantly breaking too.

What about the Stig in a privateer drive for Subaru????

 

I am annoyed at Petters problems as I was supposed to meet him on Saturday night, but after his crash he decided to sulk instead (thanks to Phil for making the effort though).

It is getting a little boring waiting for the car and driver to be reliable, but I will hang in there.

I really hope things will get better soon.