Subaru and rallying are a legendary collaboration. Subaru joined the WRC world rally in 1990. At the time it was with a “dad’s” Legacy (a long, plain-looking sedan sedan). The Legacy won the New Zealand rally in 1993 with the inevitable Scot, Colin McRae. The Legacy is returned to the garage, replaced by the Impreza. Subaru will then monopolize the first places and the titles. Manufacturer titles in 1995, 96 and 97, but also driver with McRae in 1995, Richard Burns in 2001 and Petter Solberg in 2003.
In 2008, the financial crisis caused many car manufacturers to review their sporting commitments (Honda in F1 for example). Subaru withdrew at the end of 2008. It must be said that since 2003, the ogres Loeb and Elena have been there and there. 19 seasons at the highest level and the star brand is leaving. 15 years later, we are (finally) talking about a return.
In the paddock of the WRC of Greece, Ben Sulayem confided according to Dirt Fish. “It’s no secret, I had an interesting interview with Mr. Akio Toyoda, and I asked him what we could do [pour avoir plus de constructeurs NDLA] and I listened to someone passionate. He mentioned Subaru”.
So, Akio Toyoda would support Subaru’s return. Toyota owns a share in Subaru and the two manufacturers often collaborate technically on certain elements or models. “I hope something comes out of this. I feel it would be good to have more builders” added the FIA President.
Where the “feint” for Subaru would lie, according to DirtFish, would be in sharing the engine with Toyota. Indeed, the WRC Rally 1s now have hybrid engines which are complex and expensive to develop. Subaru could then be a customer of Toyota and Ben Sulayem does not say the opposite. It obviously remains to convince Toyota (and Toyoda) to make a customer engine. For a manufacturer, it’s a risk to see a customer, even a “cousin”, beat you.
As for the car, that wouldn’t be too much of a worry because Subaru hasn’t completely stopped rallying. In the USA, Vermont SportsCar develops Subarus for rallycross, but also US rallying. Subaru would therefore not be starting from a blank sheet and could use the experience of this partner. Because after 15 years away from the WRC, the skills and experienced profiles must have disappeared internally.
Our opinion, by leblogauto.com
The return of Subaru, we are 100% for it. First of all, this would allow us to have 2 or 3 additional seats in the WRC and that would not be a luxury. And this could give ideas to other manufacturers. We could think of a Peugeot and Citroën double sharing the same power train. But the understanding has never been cordial between the two manufacturers and we don’t really see why that would change, unfortunately. In addition, Peugeot is entered in WEC LMH and the budget is tight.
If Mohammed Ben Sulayem really wants to attract manufacturers, perhaps we need to reduce the budgets necessary for these Rally 1s. And why not find a supplier for the engine, a bit like IMSA with its LMDh regulations? The return of the golden age of the WRC? Where do we sign?
