News

news :: rally

Rally News

12/29
Crash.net (UK): Q&A: Chris Atkinson - EXCLUSIVE
Subaru's Chris Atkinson ended the 2007 season seventh in the drivers' championship, having notched up 31 points in total. Crash.net Radio caught up with the Aussie to chat about his season - and his hopes for next year...
Yahoo! Sport UK & Ireland: Pons to be dropped by Subaru?
Xavier Pons will not compete on the Rallye Monte Carlo, the opening round in the 2008 FIA World Rally Championship. The Spaniard, who joined the Subaru World Rally Team back in the summer, was meant to take in all 15-rounds next season however, it now appears that won't be the case.
SWRT: Tech focus: Driver to team communications
On a rally, when the drivers leave the service park for the stage loops, it is imperative that they are able to communicate with their engineers and key team personnel at all times. In order to facilitate this, the team incorporates a raft of communications equipment into each Impreza WRC2007, including VHF radio, mobile phones and satellite phones, and the engineers share the same technology back in the service park.
Sport Compact Car: The Real Deal - 1995 Subaru Impreza L Rally Car
True motorsport enthusiasts agree that rallying requires the biggest cojones. Why? Because it pits man against the elements. Make one mistake and you could be upside down with a tree between you and your co-driver. If you break down, you don't get to pull over and have 12 guys in Viagra-branded jumpsuits come out and help, you have to pull a MacGuyver and fix the car yourself. The sport's hardcore nature attracts a certain kind of racer: down-to-earth, straight-shooting, just plain badass.
Daily Nation (KE): RALLYING: Co-driver Motuvo released from hospital
Rally navigator Moses Motuvo of Uganda has been discharged from hospital after a serious crash that saw his driver killed in a rally car accident in Zanzibar on Sunday. Motuvo, talking to Nation from Dar-es-salaam Tuesday, narrated his experience in the high speed accident that claimed the life of 22-year-old Khalid Bakhressa, who was in his first season as a rally driver.

12/17
Yahoo! Sport UK & Ireland: Who Will Be In The WRC In 2008?
All aboard for another round: Petter Solberg and Chris Atkinson return in 2008 for the Japanese team. The Norwegian and the Australian will be joined once again by Xevi Pons of Spain at the wheel of a third works Subaru Impreza. The big news for Subaru will be the launching of the totally new Impreza WRC during the course of the season.
AllAfrica.com: Uganda: Bakhressa Jr Dies in Zanzibar Rally, Matovu Survives
He tried to save the kids and ended up on the pole. He died instantly but Matovu is okay," Kasasa said. Bakhressa Jr was in the first competitive section of 35km.
Yahoo! Sport UK & Ireland: The In-Car Toolbox
Over the rigours and challenges of a long rally stage, there are many obstacles that could bring a Subaru World Rally Team Impreza's rally to an end. Whilst punctures are most common, damage to suspension, brakes, bodywork or even engine can result from heavy impacts or accidents
Yahoo! Sport UK & Ireland: On-Goings In The Off-Season
With a parallel development programme underway with both WRC versions, technicians and engineers will be busy working on the familiar current car as well as the entirely new shape that mimics Subaru's latest road car. In order to have the cars ready for next year, the pace of work doesn't abate for the dedicated crew.
Crash.net (UK): PWRC: Pastrana: It's not quite gone to plan...
Pastrana had planned to contest the full PWRC in 2008 but will now only complete a selected programme again as he instead focuses on bringing himself up to speed – although his focus remains very much on making it to the top of the WRC tree.
Rallysport Magazine (AU): Atko's Tales #6
Well the rest of the year’s rallies have gone by since I’ve last been in touch. Both Petter and I fared well in Corsica to pick up 5th and 6th place but, unfortunately, Japan didn’t quite turn out as we’d hoped, but hey, that’s rallying sometimes! For those of you who saw the in-car footage, it does look pretty frightening don’t you think?  It was actually not too bad and we thought we could keep going until I turned around and saw the massive hole in the roof!
Rallysport Magazine (AU): Ex-McRae Subaru Legacy up for auction
The 1992 Subaru Legacy (Rego: J314 PWL) of Britain's first-ever World Rally Champion, Colin McRae, in which he won the British Rally Championship of that year, is up for auction. It is estimated that the Subaru will sell for between £70,000 and £100,000.
Daily Record (UK): Colin McRae Statue Backed By Subaru
RALLY giants Subaru are backing the Record's plans for a landmark statue to honour legendary driver Colin McRae. The Japanese manufacturers, who enjoyed huge success with the Scots star, have agreed to make a substantial donation to the fund.

11/27
Crash.net (UK):
Wilson: Stobart can beat Subaru in manufacturers'
The Stobart team may only be one point in front of Subaru – but Malcolm Wilson is confident Ford's 'B' team will come out top.
Brotherly love sees Norway make RoC debut.
Despite flouting the initial premise of the competition, which used to pair one race and one rally star - and, at times, with two-wheeled champions as well - the Norwegians will carry World Rally Championship honour to London, where they will face up to familiar opposition provided by the likes of Sebastien Loeb and Marcus Gronholm, as well as the cream of the circuit racing world, including seven-time F1 champion Michael Schumacher, multiple Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen, three-time WTCC king Andy Priaulx and Champ Car ace Sebastien Bourdais.
Final WRC event for BF Goodrich.
BF Goodrich's stint in the FIA World Rally Championship will come to an end on the Rally GB this weekend, with a score of four world titles and almost certainly 32 world class wins to its name. The BF Goodrich brand will make way for rivals Pirelli next year, who were awarded the tyre tender by the FIA for the period 2008-2010 back in February 2007 – a decision which still irks Michelin.
Motorsport.com: Rally Brothers to take on ROC Elite
World Rally Championship (WRC) brothers Petter and Henning Solberg have laid down the gauntlet to The Race of Champions competition after being announced as the newest team for the Wembley extravaganza next month.
The Star: L’Estage, Richard win Tall Pines rally
Defending event champions and national rally champions Antoine L’Estage and Nathalie Richard, of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., won the Rally of the Tall Pines at Bancroft on Saturday, the last of the six-race national championship series presented by Subaru and Castrol.
Al Bawaba (JO ): Dubai rally gives red hot finish to middle east title race
The man who dominated the Dubai International Rally over three decades says the event could produce one of the best ever finishes to the FIA Middle East Championship next weekend. The UAE’s Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi and Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah face a last round showdown to decide this year’s regional title race, and Mohammed Ben Sulayem says the stage is set for a fascinating tussle between the two big rivals.
Inside Track: Rally of the Tall Pines Results
The last event of the Canadian Rally Championship, presented by Subaru and Castrol, was run this past weekend in Bancroft, Ontario, on snow and ice covered roads. Driver Antoine L'Estage and co-driver Nathalie Richard, both from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu (QC) had a perfect weekend, winning the event and the championship for drivers and co-drivers. It's a second title for L'Estage and Richard, who are also North-American champions for 2007.
Belfast Telegraph(IE): Rally good to see you back again
The champion's comments were echoed by Subaru's Chris Atkinson, who, despite falling foul of the treacherous Irish roads, said he was 'definitely' glad the WRC had come to Ireland. "You see the amount of people around and the enthusiasm for the rally here and the amount of media coverage and you hear it on the radio and you know it's an important event," continued the Aussie. "In some countries you don't get that feeling but here you definitely do." His Subaru team-mate Petter Solberg, the 2003 World champion, said he " loved it" even though it was "so, so difficult".

11/22
SWRT: Preview - Wales Rally GB
Two weeks after Rally Ireland, the last asphalt round of the 2007 FIA World Rally Championship, the Subaru World Rally team will head to Wales for the final rally of the season, and the team’s second ‘home’ event.
4NI (IE): Rally Star Meeke Tests 2008 Impreza
Local rally ace Kris Meeke is back behind the wheel this week - testing the 2008 specification S14 Sabura Impreza. He was invited to take on the test and development role for the car manufacturer - at the MIRA test facility - when he met Saburu bosses during last weekend's World Rally Championship (WRC) Sligo stages at the weekend.
Autosport (UK): Lapworth feels Subaru are improving
Last weekend's Rally Ireland marked the first time Lapworth had been at a WRC event in an official capacity with Subaru since Rally Sweden in February 2006, as he has spent most of the past two years working in other positions at Prodrive.
Yahoo! Sport UK & Ireland:
Not Your Average Tyre Shop...
Did you know that on each rally, the Subaru World Rally Team can have up to 150 wheels and tyres available for its three cars? Petter Solberg, Chris Atkinson and Xevi Pons can all choose between five types of the BFGoodrich g-Force tyre before each rally. Available from studded ice tyres to cut slicks (where a minimum of 17 per cent has to be treaded), each type is available in different compounds, the overall range from super-soft 0 compound to the hardest compound 9.
WRC Swansong For The G-Force Profiler Asphalt Tyre
The construction of a tyre is just one of the performance parameters, however. The chemists, engineers and development staff have put in a great deal of work on compounds, too, with a double objective: adapt them to the new construction and also broaden the spectrum across which each compound can function to anticipate future changes to the regulations. Indeed, given today's restrictions concerning the numbers of tyres authorised for each rally, compounds must now function across a temperature range of 15°C and no longer just 5°C. For example, a medium-soft compound ('0+') is designed to deliver optimal performance from 0 to 15°C and no longer just from 0 to 5°C as was the case, say, fifteen years ago when drivers had perhaps a hundred or so tyres available for every rally.
Crash.net (UK): Star reunion for Subaru at Bettega.
Former Subaru World Rally Team driver Markko Martin will make a surprise one-off return to the fold when he contests next month's Bettega Memorial Rallysprint.
The 32-year old Estonian, who drove for the Subaru World Rally Team in 2001, will drive the latest evolution of the team's current car, the Impreza WRC2007, in a rare competitive appearance as he tackles the traditional end-of-season event over 15-16 December.

11/12
Yahoo! Sport UK & Ireland: Subaru Trio Look Ahead To Ireland
“Rally Ireland is a totally different event, not just in terms of the bumpy surface," he said. "Being a new round it's very difficult to prepare for. We've driven the route in a Group N car, but the extra speed of the WRC car is bound to make it very different. When everything comes up faster, it becomes more difficult as you have to process the information faster, and when it is all new that is the hard part."
Belfast Telegraph (UK): Subaru keen to get back in the groove
It is the team that took Colin McRae, Richard Burns and Petter Solberg to the World Rally Championship. It is a car which spawned countless thousands of wannabes in their road-going replicas.
SWRT:
It's asphalt, but not as you know it
Ireland’s asphalt is unique – on no other WRC round of the 2007 calendar are drivers and teams faced with such a combination of bumps, narrow roads, a heady mix of gravel and the likelihood of rain.
Preview - Rally Ireland
Following the long-haul trip to Japan at the end of last month, November takes the Subaru World Rally Team closer to home, to Rally Ireland and the penultimate round of the 2007 World Rally Championship. A new addition to the WRC calendar, this year is the first that Rally Ireland has been run as a World Rally Championship round.
The logistics of remote service
During a rally weekend, the three Impreza WRC2007s are regularly serviced in the Subaru World Rally Team’s service area. Normally morning, afternoon and end of the day, there are instances ...

11/08
Speedtv: WRC: Richards Going Hands-On to Revive Subaru
With plans to take his Prodrive organization into Formula 1 next year currently in limbo, David Richards is taking a more active role in the running of Prodrive’s works-supported Subaru rally team, which has been winless for the past two years.
silicon.com: How tech drives the World Rally Championship
The World Rally Championship (WRC) is one of the most technologically advanced sports events in the world and relies heavily on sophisticated comms to bring the thrills and spills of its sport to a huge worldwide audience.
Fermanagh Herald: First Subaru Impreza RB320 comes home
Subaru's special edition Impreza RB320, commissioned in memory of World Rally Champion, Richard Burns – who lost his brave battle with cancer in 2005 – proved so successful the limited run of 320 units sold out in weeks.
Yahoo! Sport: UK & Ireland: Computers To Run Cars
The Impreza WRC2007s use a cutting edge programmable electronic engine management system, meaning that computers are the immediate tool of choice for the team's engineers. This ECU is responsible for controlling the engine, gearbox and data-logging systems, essentially determining the car's ability to run. Every time the team set up their service area, there are more than 20 laptop computers, up to five live stage timing screens, two network servers, one secured wireless network and over 1000 feet of network cable.
Motorsport.com: Rally Japan: STI Rally Team pleased with debut
The STI rally team, together with the staff from Yajima Industries group (motorsport division known as SYMS Japan, which stands for Subaru Yajima Motor Sports), had an encouraging and successful debut for the 2008-specification Group N Subaru Impreza STI, which made its first appearance as a course on the World Championship's Rally Japan.
Yahoo! Sport UK and Ireland: Raising The Roof With John Jones
While removing the roof may not seem the easiest task, it is a carefully planned procedure. Having perfected the theory through practice drills, the Subaru World Rally Team crew can remove the roof of an Impreza WRC2007 in just 90 seconds using their specialist tools.
Rallysport Magazine (AU): Block's massive WRX snow jump
Subaru Rally Team USA driver Ken Block and his Subaru Impreza WRX STI rally car have landed on the cover of the December issue of Snowboarder Magazine.  The cover shot features Block getting airborne in his Subaru at New Zealand's Snow Park Resort with DC Shoes pro-snowboarder Torstein Hargmo flying alongside the car on his snowboard.      

10/27
Rally America: Pastrana takes Rally America championship with LSPR win
Subaru Rally Team USA driver Travis Pastrana clawed into the lead in the final stages of the Lake Superior Performance Rally on Saturday to take the win – and his second Rally America driver’s title. “It was pretty tight,” said an enthusiastic Pastrana at the finish line. “We won. We didn’t crash, and we won the championship too… I’m pretty pumped.”
Autoblog: Subaru unveils Impreza WRX STI Group N rally car
Looks like the Impreza WRX Concept unveiled by Subaru at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show wasn't far off from the real thing. Today Subaru unveiled the actual car it will be offering up to the rally gods, and it is indeed based on the production WRX STI that was just unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show this week.
Rallysport Magazine (AU): Pinker takes second in US Rally Championship
“It was close, but no cigar,” said Pinker, who nonetheless claimed second overall in the driver’s championship in only his first full season of Rally America competition. “We’ll get it next year.”
Belfast Telegaraph (UK): Meeke in frame for leading Subaru role
Kris Meeke could be on the verge of joining Subaru as their test and development driver, Richard Taylor, managing director of Subaru World Rally Team, has confirmed Meeke has been shortlisted for the job of developing the new Impreza S14 which should appear next year. "Kris is one of the people we are speaking to," said Taylor. " We need somebody with a good mixture of World championship experience and good pace. Not a lot of people fit that bill but Kris is one of them."
Crash.net(UK): Rossi almost certain to do Rally GB
Valentino Rossi has been reported as saying that a deal to use a Prodrive-run Subaru Impreza WRC car in Wales is '95 per cent' sorted.

10/13
Rallysport Magazine (AU): Atko's Tales #5
It's been a pretty adventurous couple of months since I've last checked in. I've been up to everything from driving the new-look '08 Subaru Impreza road version, to testing, to racing, to sky diving! Results have been really promising of late; we had good finishes in Finland and NZ and some stage wins in Germany which was very promising because I am still learning a lot about tarmac rallying. Catalunya was not the greatest result but I took a lot out of the rally and hopefully I can put that information to good use for Corsica this weekend.
Yahoo Sport UK&Ireland:
Subaru's Corsica Preparations - Part I
One of the problems of having two rallies in two weekends is the logistics of transporting and preparing the cars in time. The Subaru World Rally Team trucks departed Salou, Catalunya Sunday night to arrive in Corsica early Monday morning, with the route recces commencing the very next day.
Subaru's Corsica Preparations - Part Ii
Once the Impreza WRC2007s have been rebuilt before an event, the Subaru World Rally Team mechanics move to the next stage of on-event preparation. The corner weights, camber, tracking and ride height of each car are all carefully measured.
Belfast Telegraph (UK): Kris gets chance to move up in World
Kris Meeke will go to the Rally Ireland ball after all. The Dungannon driver has confirmed that his name is in the entry list for Ireland's first World championship rally. And he will drive the Subaru S12 in which Eugene Donnelly won this year's Irish Tarmac championship.
Autosport.com (UK): Rossi closes on Rally GB deal
Valentino Rossi says he is close to completing a deal to contest this year's Wales Rally GB in a Subaru Impreza WRC. The MotoGP star attempted the event in a Peugeot in 2002, only to crash out early. He returned to the World Rally Championship in New Zealand last season and took his Subaru to 11th place.

10/04
BFGoodrich: WHO WILL BE THE 2007 RALLY CATALUNYA'S 'GAUDI'?
Tyre wear isn't really an issue on the Rally Catalunya because the local asphalt tends not to be too abrasive and temperatures probably won't be very high in October," observes BFGoodrich's Chief Technician Patrick Letort. "But while the compound suffers little, the casing and the seating of the tyre on the rim face a tough time because of the constant corner cutting. The run-flat mousse used by WRC drivers is a big ally, especially for the second or third passes, by which time the stages are generally littered with stones and gravel." Description of BFGoodrich's WRC Tires
Auto Racing Daily: Interview With Subaru Impreza World Rally Car Driver Chris Atkinson
How do you mentally prepare yourself before and during each stage? CA: I take each stage at a time. It’s not easy because we start a new stage, a new race if you like, about ten times a day, whereas a racing driver would do one or two. So the biggest challenge is to re-focus each time and try and relax. Especially on the long road sections between stages I listen to music to help me relax. I actually have my mp3 player in my rally car and I listen to it between the stages. I usually listen to stuff that’s positive and upbeat like alternative, punk rock, things like that. Stefan Prevot likes listening to heavy rock, but our tastes are generally pretty similar, so that’s quite cool. We click in the headsets and cruise along and get in the right frame of mind. I find it works quite well. It’s not about pumping up too much, it’s sort of relaxing your brain, so you think clearly. If things haven’t gone so well on a stage I try to use the same process each time to get back in the right frame of mind. That sort of routine helps me keep a clear head. During a stage there’s nothing to focus on but driving. The biggest thing I learned early on is if you think about something else you crash. That’s it. If your mind wanders just a bit you have to tell yourself straight away no – listen to the notes. Or crash.
Crash.net(UK):
Colin McRae remembered in Lanark.
Over 20,000 people are estimated to have taken to the streets of Lanark yesterday to attend the memorial service for 1995 World Rally Champion Colin McRae.
Mills: Petter and I will be staying with Subaru.
Petter has been rumoured to be looking to leave Subaru after another difficult year with the Banbury-based outfit and while there is no doubt 'Hollywood' and Mills haven't enjoyed many good events this season, Phil reiterated at the Castle Combe Rallyday in the UK last month that they are very committed to the Prodrive-run squad.
FIRST PIC: Pirelli's new asphalt WRC tyre for 08.
The differences between the new asphalt P Zero tyre and the existing WRC rubber that has been produced to date – generally consisting of specialised tyres for either wet or dry conditions – now begin to be clear.
The new World Championship asphalt tyre is designed for use in both wet and dry conditions: just like the tyres fitted to road cars. For extremely wet asphalt conditions, drivers will be able to ‘cut' their own tyres in order to guarantee the highest possible levels of safety.
SWRT: Rally Catalunya: Event Preview
After a month-long break following the trip down under for Rally New Zealand, the Subaru World Rally Team is heading to Europe for the first installment of an asphalt double header.

09/26
Belfast Telegraph (UK): Ulster rally fans in tribute to hero McRae
A week after his death in a helicopter crash, Ulster fans of former world rally champion Colin McRae paid a last poignant tribute in the Subarus he made famous.
Autosport.com (UK): Coulthard to pay homage to McRae
I will race with a helmet painted in Colin McRae's colours at the Japanese Grand Prix. I'm also hoping to get the other drivers to sign it and give it to the McRae family as a show of respect from Formula One", wrote Coulthard in his column for ITV-F1.
Rallysport Magazine (AU): Block takes Colorado rally win
Pastrana called it “the most fun I've ever had in a car in my whole life" when his 2006 Subaru WRX STi toppled over a cliff and landed 60 yards off the road in a field. The pair regained the course and lost little time to their opponents. It was at this rally in 2005 that Pastrana famously slid wide on a corner and rolled his top-spec Subaru seven and three-quarter times.
Sportsweb (NZ): Flat-out to decide NZ’s rally championship
The flat-out roads of Nelson will decide this weekend’s 2007 Vantage Aluminium Joinery New Zealand Rally Championship. Concluding a six-month journey around New Zealand, it will come down to the nine forestry based stages in the 0800 Boxman Rally of Nelson that will settle the ranking on Sunday 30th September. Included in to the 26 strong lineup will be Californian Ken Block and co-driver Alex Gelsomino in their Subaru Impreza. Back for his fourth New Zealand event, running the co-owner of the DC Shoes sports brand means the event will run full ‘international’ status.
Crash.net(UK):
Colin McRae MBE: 1968-2007.
From his first WRC outing with the team in 1992, when he finished second in Sweden in his Subaru Legacy, McRae was destined to be one of the leading lights on the world rally stage, and a maiden victory in WRC competition duly followed in 1993 in New Zealand – giving McRae the honour of being the first, and only, person to win at WRC level with the Legacy. For 1994, McRae found himself at the wheel of a car that would quickly become as legendary on the rallying scene as the Scot himself, as Subaru rolled out the Impreza for its first season of competition. Wins in New Zealand and Great Britain were the highlight of the season and the Scot then took victory on the same two events during the 1995 campaign – although the ultimate prize at the end of the year was much greater as he became the first Briton to lift the WRC title.
Tributes: Colin McRae, 1968-2007
Jimmy McRae, speaking on behalf of the whole family:
"Colin was a great son, a loving husband to Alison and a fantastic father to Johnny and his big sister Hollie. Johnny was a great wee guy, spending every spare minute with his dad, and even at this early stage it looked like he had the potential to carry on the family dynasty.
David Coulthard – Red Bull Racing Formula 1 driver:
"In line with many people, I'm shocked and saddened to hear of the loss to the McRae family, of father and son, and obviously we must acknowledge the other family that were on board the helicopter as well. Colin was a remarkable man who wore his heart on this sleeve and was the epitome of a racer; fearless and attacking, yet he remained true to his roots and grounded despite the international fame and recognition that he achieved. The world is a sorrier place without him."
Guy Frequelin - Citroen Sport director:
"In 2003, I was fortunate to have three extraordinary drivers in my squad: Carlos Sainz, Sebastien Loeb and Colin McRae. The news of Colin's death really took me aback; I am devastated. He was such a likeable person, and very open and honest. He was a true sportsman who never looked for excuses. He derived pleasure from everything he undertook. He was a battler, of course, but I believe what drove him, what made him someone who would just never give up, was that permanent quest for pleasure. Everyone in the team adored him and we are all deeply grieved."
Subaru: We are talking to Rossi about Rally GB.
"Yes it is a possibility. We have kept in contact with Valentino and his management since Rally New Zealand last year and would very much like to see him back in a Subaru for Rally GB. Although nothing is fixed as yet we are all working hard to try and make it happen," said the spokesperson.
Scotsman.com (UK):
Drives that shaped McRae's career
But it's behind the wheel of his rally cars where the Scot shone brightest. Here, The Scotsman takes a look at the five most significant drives of McRae's career.
NEW ZEALAND RALLY, 1993
RAC RALLY, 1995
RALLY CORSICA, 2000
NETWORK Q RALLY OF GREAT BRITAIN, 2001
SAFARI RALLY, 2002
Daring driver who became an icon
COLIN McRae will live long in the hearts of motorsport fans around the world as someone whose single-minded pursuit of speed gave genuine meaning to the word "exceptional". Daring and uncompromising once the crash helmet came down over his face, the Lanarkshire lad achieved hero status in his backyard after becoming the first Briton to win the world rally championship drivers' title.
Sportinglife.com(UK): McRAE WAS A STYLISH CHAMPION
Millions of computer games fans will know Colin McRae from the successful range of Sony Playstation game he leant his name to. Motorsport fans will remember him for the uncompromising style and determination which won him the drivers' world title in 1995.
Telegraph (UK): Colin McRae: chancer who took on the world
The statue of William Wallace gazes down on the town of Lanark from the steeple of St Nicholas's Church, but Colin Steele McRae, who was feared dead last night in a helicopter crash in his home county of Lanarkshire, was the Braveheart of modern times.
PRnewswire: Subaru Rally Concept Car Debuts as 5-door at 2007 Frankfurt International Motor Show
Debuting at the Frankfurt International Motor Show today is the Subaru World Rally Championship Concept car which in its 5-door form points to the future direction of the Subaru WRC competition car.
Rallysport Magazine (AU): New Impreza WRC concept unveiled
Richard Taylor, Subaru World Rally Team managing director, commented: "We are on schedule with development of the 2008 car and the first body shell will be completed within a matter of weeks. We aim to be running the car in the last quarter of this year, and its competitive debut will be decided by the progress of testing and also that of the current car."

09/13
Autosport (UK):
Colin McRae: a true rally legend
The first British driver to win the World Rally Championship, Colin McRae's name will always been synonymous with great British rallying success - and with the talent to extend his success beyond rallying.
Police: Colin McRae believed dead
Colin McRae is believed to have been killed in a helicopter crash this afternoon at his estate home in Scotland.
The Sunday Times (UK): Rally champion Colin McRae dies with son in helicopter crash
The former rally driving champion Colin McRae was killed and his five year-old son feared dead in a helicopter crash yesterday afternoon. The aircraft came down in Jerviswood, Lanarkshire, half a mile from the family's home and burst into flames just after 4pm.
Sky News (UK): McRae Believed To Be On Crash Helicopter (Video)
A helicopter registered to former rally driving champion Colin McRae has crashed near his home in Lanark, killing at least one person. Sky's Scotland Correspondent James Matthews reports from close to the scene of the accident.

09/08
SWRT: Subaru seals deal with Atkinson until 2009
The Subaru World Rally Team has extended its driver contract with 27-year-old Chris Atkinson until the end of the 2009 World Rally Championship (WRC) season.

09/05
Belfast Telegraph (IE): Meeke counting the cost of rally Ireland
It will cost close to £40,000 to run a competitive car like the DMG Subaru S11 in which he annihilated the opposition on the Irish Tarmac and British championship event at the weekend, and the money doesn't exist at the moment.
Crash.net (UK):
PWRC: Arai closes on second title.
Toshi Arai further increased his advantage in the race for the Production Car World Rally Championship title following his victory in New Zealand on Sunday, the fifth round in the series. Arai now has a huge 24 point lead over his nearest rival, Mark Higgins and could secure the title on his home event, the Rally Japan at the end of October, the next round in the PWRC, which runs from October 26-28, providing he finishes in the top two.
We have a lot of work to do, says Petter.
Subaru team leader Petter Solberg has said that while his Impreza WRC car was definitely better on the third and final day in New Zealand, it was still far from perfect.
Solberg had to endure another event to forget this weekend and while he did finish in the points and take seventh place, ‘Hollywood' was extremely unhappy with the handling of his car on days 1 and 2.
Stuff (NZ): Shaken Gilmour ready for rally
Rolling a Subaru Impreza WRX at 150kmh can really mess with your head as Chris Barclay discovered when talking to New Zealand's leading female rally driver Emma Gilmour.
The Mining Journal: Sarasin finding rally success
CPD Racing driver Kyle Sarasin of Marquette placed first among his fellow Group 5 competitors and earned a fourth-place overall driving the Go Fast Sports Ford Focus at the seventh round of the Rally America National Championship, the Ojibwe Forests Rally in northern Minnesota.
SWRT: Stage summaries with Phil Mills
Petter's co-driver Phil Mills explains more about the eleven individual stages that make up Rally New Zealand

8/28
Scoop (NZ): Battle of the brand at Rally New Zealand
The country's premier rally championship series will have an interesting battle play out between rival car manufacturers Mitsubishi and Subaru at the 38th running of Rally New Zealand. Not since Rally New Zealand 2005 has the Vantage Aluminium Joinery New Zealand Rally Championship had a Mitsubishi out front - currently with a nine point lead.
Rally America: Pastrana Wins Round 7, Pinker Maintains Championship Lead
Defending champion Travis Pastrana and co-driver Christian Edstrom won a battle of bad luck to come out on top at Round 7 of the Rally America National Championship in Minnesota Aug. 24-25. Teams battled blinding dust, mechanical problems and flat tires during the dramatic two-day contest. “That was an ‘everyone had bad luck’ rally,” said Subaru Rally Team USA driver Pastrana at the finish of the Ojibwe Forests Rally. “I’m the luckiest unlucky person in the world.”
Motorsport.com: SRT USA Ojibwe Forest summary
Subaru Rally Team USA driver Travis Pastrana has won the Ojibwe Forest Rally with his Subaru teammate Ken Block close behind in 2nd Overall. Pastrana, driving a 2007 Subaru Impreza WRX STI, led the Ojibwe Forest Rally, round seven of the Rally America National Championship, from the very first stage and went on to win seven of the event's fifteen stages while atop the leaderboard. The win puts Pastrana, the defending Rally America National Champion, firmly back in the title hunt with just two rounds remaining.
Crash.net (UK):
Subaru to begin testing new car in final quarter.
The SubaruWorld Rally team have revealed that they are 'on schedule' with their new WRCchallenger and that testing with the new Impreza WRC should begin in the next few months. Since the first images of the WRC ‘concept car' were released a few weeks ago, details have been thin on the ground, other than the fact the car will be officially unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, with number one driver, Petter Solberg in attendance.
Subaru: Petter isn't going anywhere.
SubaruWorld Rally team managing director, Richard Taylor has dismissed speculation that their number one driver, Petter Solberg could leave the team at the end of this year. Subaru have been going through a difficult patch over the last 18 months or so and according to reports by Autosport magazine recently, the Norwegian might be on the verge of going to Citroen, even though he only signed a new deal with the SWRT less than a year ago, when he committed himself to the Banbury-based outfit until the end of 2009.
Q&A: Richard Taylor - EXCLUSIVE.
SubaruWorld Rally team managing director, Richard Taylor hasn't had the easiest of times of late as the Banbury-based outfit struggle to match the likes of Ford and Citroen.
Autoweek: Subaru too late?
Subaru’s new Impreza WRC car will be shown at the Frankfurt auto show in September, and it hints at the possible design of the new Impreza WRX STI road car that will debut at the Tokyo show in October. But the team’s star driver, Petter Solberg, might never race it.
Automobile Magazine: 2007 Summer X Games
Watching the XGames live in person is a little like being on the set of Jackass - or the movie Idiocracy. Sure, you're immediately humbled by the talent - and the cojones - of the kids doing backflips on their bikes fifty feet in the air. But you notice rather quickly that the audience's cheering is just that one decibel louder when someone screws up and gets nailed in the crotch with a handlebar.

08/06
Rally-America: Foust Wins X Games Rally Car Super Special; DQ’d Pastrana Takes Bronze
RockStar Energy Drink Syms Racing Rally Team driver Tanner Foust and co-driver Chrissie Beavis surged ahead in the home stretch to take the checkered flag – and the gold – in the Rally Car Racing Super Special competition, the final event of ESPN X Games 13.
Speed TV: RALLY X GAMES: Foust Wins Stadium Gold
“If you’re not nervous on the starting line, you might as well quit,” said Colin McRae, standing at the base of a 70-foor jump jutting up from the floor of the Home Depot Center soccer stadium a few hours before the start of Summer X Games 13. “I’m more nervous here than I would be at a WRC event, because you only get one shot at it here.
Crash.net (UK:
Petter: Car just wasn't working.
Petter Solberg had been hoping to be able to battle for a place on the podium on the Rally Finland at the weekend instead though he was forced to withdraw from the event on leg 2 due to severe handling problems. Petter first reported a problem with his Impreza WRC car on the opening loop on Friday when he said that the car was simply not driveable. Indeed the Norwegian was so frustrated with it that he was apparently reduced to tears.
Pons 'encouraged' by form on debut with Subaru.
“It feels great to have completed my first rally with the Subaru World Rally Team, and I am very happy. I have a good working relationship with Xavier Amigo [my co-driver] which is getting stronger the more we drive the car, and I am fitting in to the team well,” he noted.
Atkinson does 'superb job'.
Subaru's Chris Atkinson came through to take a 'well deserved' fourth place on the Rally Finland on Sunday, the ninth round in the 2007 FIA World Rally Championship

07/24
One Sport (NZ): Subaru confirm Rally NZ entry
The Subaru World Rally Team are the first of the glamour teams to enter next month's Rally New Zealand. Subaru will enter three cars in Rally New Zealand, Round 11 of the FIA World Rally Championship, which will be based in Hamilton, heading to the King Country, Waikato and Franklin districts from August 30 until September 2
PR Newswire: Subaru Exclusive Automotive and Gold Sponsor of ESPN X Games 13
2008 Subaru Impreza WRX to be grand prize awarded by ESPN to the 'Subaru Most Outstanding Athlete of the Games' Subaru Rally Team USA driver Travis Pastrana set to defend X Games gold medal in rally competition
Crash.net (UK): Staff changes working, says Petter.
The recent changes made to the engineering department at the Subaru WRT in a bid to 'boost the competitiveness of the current car' and 'support the longer term development of its 2008 successor' are working, that's the verdict of Petter Solberg.
PR-GB.com (BG) : Atkinson Confident of Subaru’s Resurgence
Chris Atkinson, one of the promising stars in the World Rally Championship, is struggling in the current WRC season but is confident that Subaru is progressing that it is on the way to claiming its former glory. Atkinson said that Subaru is catching up with leaders Citroen and Ford.
Yahoo! Sport UK and Ireland (UK): Q&A: Petter Solberg
2003 World Rally champion, Petter Solberg is looking forward to the second half of the season, which gets underway early next month, with the Rally Finland. Crash.net Radio caught up with the Norwegian recently and he seemed quietly confident that the Subaru World Rally Team will do better...

07/18
Crash.net (UK): Atkinson: It's all starting to come together now.
Chris Atkinson is confident of a far more competitive second half to the 2007 World Rally Championship campaign, vowing Subaru will finally get back to where it belongs by taking the fight to pace-setters Citroën and Ford.
Rally Sport Magazine (AU): Sordo, Solberg crash in testing
Citroen and Subaru drivers were out testing near Valdenz in Germany last week, in preparation for ADAC Rallye Deutschland. Both Dani Sordo and Petter Solberg crashed their cars.

07/05
Crash.net (UK):
Pons gears up for maiden test with Subaru.
Xavier Pons will get his first go in a Subaru Impreza WRC2007 this week, as he begins his preparations for the Rally Finland and the Rallye Deutschland, his first two outings with the Banbury-based outfit. Pons concluded a one and a half year deal with the Subaru World Rally Team back in May and now the Spaniard is eager to get back in action full-time following three appearances in a privately entered Mitsubishi Lancer WRC05 earlier this year.
Q&A: Xavier Pons - EXCLUSIVE.
Xavier Pons will make his debut with the Subaru World Rally Team on the Rally Finland next month having concluded a deal that will see him compete with the Banbury-based outfit on all the remaining events this season, as well as doing a full-year in 2008. Here he speaks exclusively to Crash.net and looks ahead to his maiden outing in the Impreza WRC 2007...
Motorsport.com: Tire telemetry can replace banned run-flat mousse in '08
Twenty years on from the introduction of mousse-equipped tyres in the WRC, the technology that allows drivers to continue to the end of the stage is to be banned for 2008. However, a robust solution, providing an early warning to drivers of any pressure loss to allow them to preserve the tyre at the earliest opportunity will be available from leading harsh environment tyre pressure monitoring developer BERU F1 Systems.
Rally Sport Magazine (AU): Macneall returns to international rallying
Chris Atkinson’s former co-driver, Glenn Macneall, makes his return to international competition next weekend. The Dunedin-based Australian will co-drive for Japanese driver Toshi Arai in the Hokkaido Rally, Japan’s round of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship

06/27
Speed TV: WRC: Championship to Get Downsized
In order to attract more manufacturer teams into the sport, the FIA has confirmed during today’s World Motor Sport Council meeting that the World Rally Championship season will be downsized beginning in 2009.
Autochannel: GRAND AM (MID-OHIO) - Skavnes, Hemmingson Play Pit Strategy to Perfection
Returning after a one-race hiatus, the No. 111 ICY/Phoenix Racing Subaru/Rotary/SPT Subaru Legacy and drivers Kristian Skavnes and Chuck Hemmingson played pit strategy to perfection in recording their second Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series Street Tuner (ST) victory of the season in Sunday’s two-and-a-half hour race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Crash.net (UK): McRae: I've not given up on full time drive.
Colin McRae insists that he hasn't yet given up the chance of securing a full-time motorsport drive despite finding himself without a regular seat since the conclusion of the 2003 World Rally Championship season.

06/20
Washington Post: Pastrana Trying a New Challenge
Travis Pastrana regularly opens his home and backyard playground to friends who need a place to practice motocross, BMX or skateboarding, or simply need somewhere to crash for this week's Dew Tour stop in Baltimore. They get free room and board, but there is one little catch.
BFGoodrich: TYRES AND HARD GRAVEL
BFGoodrich will be bringing out a new evolution tyre for the forthcoming Acropolis Rally and the 2006 season's first hard gravel fixture – which features new stages, a longer total stage distance, even more abrasive surfaces and the prospect of a single authorised pattern type from 2007 – effectively poses an interesting challenge,. But just how does the g-Force Gravel transmit power to the ground on hard-wearing, rock-strewn surfaces ?
SpeedTV: Ramana Lagemann: Student to Teacher
“He had a reputation of being kind of hard to deal with,” Ramana said of Lovell. “He (wanted) perfection. He demanded 100 percent and he gave 100 percent. We had dinner together the night before he died and we talked about quite a few things.”
Rallysport Magazine (AU):
Johnson's massive rally jump
It’s all too easy to ignore the notes that a co-driver reels off during a pacenoted rally but as has been the case lately, a driver ignores the notes at his peril.
New photos: McRae's 330bhp rally Escort
1995 World Champion, Colin McRae, is still competing regularly in rallies, although his WRC days seem long gone. These days, aside from irregular drives in Rally Raid events, McRae contests events in the UK in his pride and joy – a Mk 2 Escort that is, more than likely, the best Escort ever built
Duval tests Suzuki SX4
Suzuki have not announced their driver line up for their 2008 assault on the WRC, however Duval’s name will now be added to the mix, along with Australian Chris Atkinson, who is rumoured to be contemplating a move from Subaru.
Autosport.com: Pons plans conservative approach
Xevi Pons says he will take a conservative approach when he returns to the World Rally Championship with Subaru in August, and will focus on preparing for his first full season with the team in 2008.
Belfast Telegraph (UK): So, how was Eugene advised by Coulthard?
A NEW co-driver for Eugene Donnelly? Trouble is, there would probably be a fight for the wheel of the rally car - and David Coulthard might not be too good at calling pacenotes.

05/29
Crash.net:
Subaru confirm development push.
Speaking during a break in testing in Wales, where Solberg was due to hand over the car to Chris Atkinson today [Friday], Taylor added that while they will have some tweaks for the Acropolis next weekend, it won't be anything major due to the fact there is only a two week gap between that event and the last one in Sardinia. He expects a lot of progress to be made though during the two-month summer break.
Yahoo Sport UK & Ireland:
Subaru's Acropolis Rally Guide
Every round of the World Rally Championship presents a tough challenge, but next weekend's Acropolis Rally of Greece is one of the most difficult of them all. A combination of searing heat, boulder-strewn gravel roads and difficult stage layouts make this a true survival of the fittest. With a nine-week break in the WRC year after this event, the Subaru World Rally Team is heading to the Mediterranean keen to end the first half of the season on a high.
Mousse: Also Known As 'Greek Saviour'
For the 2007 WRC calendar's eighth and also roughest round, the American tyre manufacturer will have three tyre types available: the g-Force Gravel, the H1 and the H2, all of which will be equipped with the indispensable mousse run-flat system.
Stage Stars Rally Around Goodwood
A wealth of rally stage stars past and present – including Petter Solberg, Colin McRae, Stig Blomqvist and Paddy Hopkirk – will be in action on the demanding Forest Rally Stage on the hillside above Goodwood House at this year's Festival of Speed, being staged from 22-24 June.
SpeedTV:
First KONI Challenge Series Win For Subaru
With his ICY/Phoenix Racing No. 111 Subaru Legacy crew members predicting a victory, Kristian Skavnes scored just that in Saturday’s Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series Street Tuner (ST) race at Lime Rock Park. Skavnes dove to the inside of Ken Dobson in Turn 1 with less than 20 minutes remaining in the two-and-a-half hour, 132-lap race and never looked back en route to the first career series victory for himself and co-driver Chuck Hemmingson
Ramana Lagemann Takes Olympus Win
Ramana Lagemann earned his first Rally America win of the season in the Washington’s Olympus Rally last weekend after a fierce battle with Australian driver Andrew Pinker that saw the pair exchange the lead right until the final seconds of the race.
Gamesindustry.biz: It's the dirtiest drive of the year – Colin McRae: DIRT™ playable demos out now!
It’s time to hit the tracks and taste the dirt as Codemasters launches the Colin McRae: DIRT™
Ralysport Magazine (AU): A career at the crossroads
Australia’s World Rally Championship star, Chris Atkinson, started the year in sensational fashion, steering his Subaru to fourth place at the season opener in Monte Carlo, in the process beating 2006 Rally Australia winner, Mikko Hirvonen, in a down-to-the-wire fight to the finish. But since then, says RallySport Magazine's Peter Whitten, the Queenslander’s season has gone down hill and he’s never really been on the pace – certainly not with any consistency
The Olympian: Rally roars into South Sound
Steve McQuaid of Montesano still remembers when he got hooked on rally racing.
McQuaid, chairman of this year's Olympus Rally that races through forest areas around the Shelton area today and Sunday, was a senior at Montesano High School when he was bitten by the rally bug.
The Daily World: Pastrana brings star power to rally cars
“You hit something big in about one out of every four races,” he said. “Then you either roll the car or fly into the woods.” Pastrana recently hit a hazard and his car flipped 15 times. He walked away from that accident unscathed.
The Olympian: A daredevil attitude
With his famous blue racecar sliding sideways, spraying up a wall of dirt and dust, Travis Pastrana stomps on both the brake and accelerator as a hairpin turn quickly approaches.The car leans, seemingly on the verge of rolling. Pastrana then punches the accelerator, pushing himself and a passenger back into their seats as the car snakes around the dirt track at Straddleline ORV Park. It's an intense glimpse into a professional car race driver's world.
Shelbyville Daily Union: Rally racing, family linked for Team Hanson
Every young boy wants to be a race car driver at some point.
Luckily for Travis Hanson, his father never outgrew that desire, either.
“Dad is the right person to have in the righthand seat,” said 22-year-old Travis, the man behind the wheel of Team Hanson Racing, a Williamsburg father and son combo aiming for success in the national Rally America series this year.

05/16
Crash.net (UK):
Subaru sign Pons.
The Subaru World Rally team have announced that Xavier Pons will join the Banbury-based outfit for the second half of the 2007 season and for the entire 2008 FIA World Rally Championship campaign.
Atkinson aims for better than seventh.
Subaru's number two driver, Chris Atkinson has set his sights on finishing 'a little higher' than seventh on the Rally d'Italia Sardegna. Atkinson had to get use to a new co-driver in Argentina two weeks ago, but is now raring to go in Sardinia, his second event with Stephane Prevot. Furthermore while the Aussie was reluctant to set any specific targets, he did say he hopes to get more than two points this time out.
Sardinia could be good for us, says Petter.
Subaru team leader Petter Solberg has said that while some details still have to 'come together' he is hopeful he will be able to push for the win on the Rally d'Italia Sardegna.
Grand Am: American Racing Legend Davy Jones Returns to Sports Car Roots
Davy Jones, one of seven Americans to win the Historic 24 Hours of Le Mans, will return to one of his favorite tracks, Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway this weekend to compete in the Grand American Koni Challenge ST race.
HSPN.com: Seasoned Team Drivers Take Their Successful Subaru Effort in the Koni Challenge Series to Laguna Seca
Subaru Road Racing Team (SRRT) drivers Dave Rosenblum, Chuck Hemmingson, Kristian Skavnes, and Davy Jones anticipate continued strong performances from their Subaru race cars in the next two Grand-Am Koni Challenge races on their schedules after the team’s impressive season debut in mid-April. Theteam’s next two races are the U.S. Sports Car Invitational at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California, on May 17-20 and the Grand-Am GT Classic at Lime Rock Park the following weekend in Lakeville, Connecticut.

05/12
SWRT.com:
Subaru drivers impressed by Jordan
Like good boy scouts, Petter Solberg and Phil Mills like being prepared. That’s why Subaru’s dedicated duo flew from the most recent WRC event in Argentina straight to Amman to take part in the recce for the Jordan Rally.
Rally Sardegna - preview
The Subaru World Rally Team moves from the grassy Pampas of Argentina to the dramatic Mediterranean landscape of Sardinia for round seven of the 16-event World Rally Championship
Rallysport Magazine (AU): Possum Bourne Subaru up for grabs
The car, which was also used by Ari Vatanen, Colin McRae and Richard Burns, is now up for auction in New Zealand, with a starting price of just NZ$10,000.
Crash.net:
Atkinson gels with new co-driver.
Subaru's Chris Atkinson has revealed that he is happy with how things went with new co-driver, Stephane Prevot on the Rally Argentina, their first event together.
PWRC: Pastrana: Here trouble finds you!
Travis Pastrana missed out on scoring more points in the FIA Production Car World Rally Championship category on the Rally Argentina last weekend when he suffered a double puncture near the end of the event.
Subaru: Development of Impreza WRC2007 on course.
The Subaru World Rally Team has confirmed that it is 'on schedule' with the development of the Impreza WRC2007, which will make its third appearance in the FIA World Rally Championship this coming weekend in Argentina.
Motorsport.com: PWRC: SRT USA Rally Argentina summary
Subaru Rally Team USA driver Travis Pastrana and his co-driver Christian Edstrom have driven their BFGoodrich Tires shod 2007 Subaru Impreza WRX STI rally car to a 10th place P-WRC (Production Car World Rally Championship) finish at Rally Argentina. Argentina was only the 2nd WRC event in Pastrana's young career, after his debut at Corona Rally Mexico in March where he finished an impressive 5th overall in the P-WRC.
Belfast Telegraph (UK): Win or bust for Higgins
The fact he has to drive three completely different cars is not a problem to the talented Higgins but difficulties arise where the Irish and British championships converge - on the Jim Clark Rally in Scotland, in his native Isle of Man and on the Ulster International.
New Zealand Herald (NZ): Block back for 2nd round of champs
American multimillionaire Ken Block will add much interest to next month's international motor rally in Whangarei. The Californian, runner-up in the 2006 US championship, will compete in Sam Murray's FRAM team from May 11-13 in the event that doubles as the second round of the New Zealand rally championship and the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship.
Stuff (NZ): US multi-millionaire enters Whangarei rally
The Californian, runner-up in the 2006 US championship, will compete in Sam Murray's FRAM team from May 11-13 in the event that doubles as the second round of the New Zealand rally championship and the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship.
Speed:
Rim of the World Crowns First Female Rally Winner
The Antelope Valley Fairgrounds arena had a dramatic atmosphere for the final stage to determine the overall winner for the 2007 Subaru Rim of the World Rally Challenge, as Lisa Klassen became the first woman in the North American history of the sport to driver her rally car to an overall win.
Andrew Pinker Wins Oregon Trail Rally
Australian Andrew Pinker took his first win of the Rally America season this weekend at the Oregon Trail rally, a challenging and technical contest over forest roads in western Oregon.

04/23
Belfast Telegraph (UK): Higgins targets a unique treble
For Higgins, who is co-driven by Donegal's Rory Kennedy, it means a third different type of car in as many rallies. He won the PWRC section of Rally Mexico in a Group N Mitsubishi, switched to a WRC Subaru to win over the Ulster roads at Easter and will be in a production Subaru this weekend for the opening round of the British series.
Crash.net (UK):
Official: Prevot gets co-driver gig with Atkinson.
The Subaru World Rally team has confirmed that Stephane Prevot will become Chris Atkinson's new co-driver, following Glenn Macneall's decision to step down.
Prevot, who has close links with the Banbury-based outfit, having sat in Impreza WRC cars alongside Bruno Thiry in 1999 and more recently with asphalt ace, Stephane Sarrazin in 2006, will make his debut with the Aussie next month in Argentina.
Q&A: Toni Gardemeister - EXCLUSIVE.
It is not so simple to switch cars, but the Mitsubishi was immediately quite easy to handle and it suited my driving style quite well. OK, all the cars - the Xsara and the 307 - were quite easy too, the Peugeot was at the start a bit more difficult, but once I drove it a bit more, it also started to suit my style. But for sure always if you haven't tested before you jump in another car it takes a while to get top speed.
Atkinson takes runners-up spot in Bathurst.
Subaru's number two driver, Chris Atkinson took his first podium of the year on the Bathurst 12-Hour Showroom Enduro on Sunday, when he finished second overall.
The Aussie, who was competing in an Impreza WRX STI, shared the car with fellow Australian rally drivers, Cody Crocker and Dean Herridge. They were engaged in a tough battle with the BMW 335i, driven by Garry Holt, Craig Baird and Paul Morris throughout the 257-lap affair and although they only lost out near the end, they had one other consolation, namely that they won their class, for All-Wheel Drive Performance Cars.
Antelope Valley Press: Rim of the World moves to fairgrounds
The 26th annual Subaru Rim of the World Rally follows CORR into the Fairgrounds next weekend. Because of a change in Department of Interior policy, the rally drivers will not be permitted to race the clock on the mountain roads of the Angeles National Forest.
Motorsport.com: Solberg, Mills to run Jordan recce
Subaru World Rally Team pairing Petter Solberg and Phil Mills are to take part in the recce for next month's Jordan Rally as preparation for the event's graduation to the FIA World Rally Championship calendar in 2008.
Rallysport Magazine (AU): Macneall relieved with decision
Glenn Macneall says that his decision to resign from his position with the Subaru World Rally Team was like “a weight has been lifted off my shoulders”.
Macneall, who has co-driven for Chris Atkinson since the end of the 2004 season, decided to quit his World Championship job after an accident which ended his and Atkinson’s Rally of Portugal.

04/12
Speedtv: WOOD: Travis Pastrana: Handling the Pressure
Drivers always say they don’t feel external pressures to do well or win. Most are lying but I believe Travis Pastrana when he said there’s no amount of money that could pay for the pressure and “make me do the work necessary to be the best.” He said very few would work as hard as Ricky Carmichael even if they were paid five million a year to ride.

03/28
Rally America: RALLY AMERICA RACERS COMPETE IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AT THE 2007 OREGON TRAIL RALLY
Take the perfect scenic route and enjoy the sights and sounds of many of the top race car drivers in the country as they compete at the Oregon Trail Rally. This event is the third action-packed motorsport race of the season during the 2007 Rally America National Championship Series. A highly skilled field of athletes will compete in and around the Portland area from April 20 – 22. Competitors involved in the Oregon Trail Rally will be vying for a chance to be selected to compete in ESPN X Games 13.
Rallysport Magazine (AU): Subaru's tailor-made rally cars
Subaru Australia is producing a range of custom motorsport vehicle packages based on the popular Impreza WRX STI spec.C – the Group N FIA homologated car developed by Fuji Heavy Industries in Japan. Designed for customers wanting to purchase a motorsport vehicle to their desired specification, the base Impreza WRX STI spec.C is just a starting point.
Motorsport.com: Subaru World Rally Team adds new team partner
The Subaru World Rally team today announced a new three year partnership deal with British sports footwear brand HI-TEC.
Belfast Telegraph (UK): The former rally driver who liked Aston Martins so much he bought the company
t is every motoring enthusiast's dream. Yesterday David Richards, a former world rally driver, took control of Aston Martin, paying Ford Motor Company £479m for what remains one of the most iconic motoring brands in the world.
Crash.net (UK): Subaru: We showed new car has podium pace.
Subaru have said that while the result on the Rally Mexico this weekend was not ‘perfect', it was a good indication of the potential of the new Impreza WRC 2007.
ndeed Subaru's Petter Solberg and Chris Atkinson were a lot more competitive than they have been of late and both were running well and posting good times, especially on day one.
Rally-info.com: Exciting Safari Result
he KCB Safari Rally 2006 delivered a well fitting career start to the promising IRC series. The Safari is traditionally about the most specialised and unique rally ever existing. Even the cars have to be prepared in a special way, easy to identify by bull bars and snorkels. The Safari always made for special marketing opportunities, delivering pictures that reflect adventure and challenge like no other motorsport event. For all this it made for a difficult start of the IRC, their filming crews, recording stage times. But in the same way for all this it should make the IRC more special in the future. The WRC’s loss is the IRC’s gain.
The Timesonline (UK): Prodrive group to land Aston Martin
The two parties are thought to be negotiating over the detail of a deal that will value the Aston Martin business at about £450 million. Ford is understood to have been seeking more than twice that figure when it first put the marque, which was famously James Bond’s car of choice, up for sale.

03/01
IGN.com: Rally Report: 100 ACRE WOOD-Ken Block and the rest of SRT get dirrrty in Missouri.
After January's exciting season opener at the Sno*Drift Rally in Michigan, the field was wide open for the contenders at this month's event in Missouri. Recall that although Travis Pastrana and Christian Edstrom of Subaru Rally Team USA won the January event, they won only three stages of the rally outright. This championship is still very much open, for the driver with the guts and skill to take it.
Rallysport Magazine (AU):
WRC's Vision 2012
Chandler, from New Zealand, has produced ‘Vision 2012’ which will be presented at the World Council meeting in June.
“We’ll get some response to that in June and then we hope to have the final document for implementation or approval by the World Council at the October meeting,” Chandler said in British weekly, Motorsport News.
Petter Solberg rally game
Norwegian company, Momentum, has been chosen by Petter Solberg to produce the next generation of rally  games for all platforms, including high-end consoles, PCs and mobile gaming. The games will be produced and marketed worldwide, under Momentum’s leading HooHa brand name.
Stuck on Solberg
Petter Solberg, his brother Henning Solberg, and fellow Norwegian rally driver, Thomas Schie, have been immortalised in a new set of three stamps, to be released in Norway on Febrary 6. 
Crash.net (UK): Subaru, WRC on the Discovery Channel.
But is it on in the US???
SpeedTV: RALLY AMERICA: Subaru Rally Team USA Top 2 at 100 Acre Wood
Subaru Rally Team USA driver Ken Block celebrated the one-year anniversary of his first career win with victory this weekend at the Rally of the 100 Acre Wood.
Motorsport.com:
Ken Block to expand program
Subaru Rally Team USA driver and 2006 Rally America National Championship runner-up Ken Block announced today an expansion to his 2007 rally program that will see him contest five International events in addition to contesting the full 2007 Rally America National Championship. Block's confirmed International rounds include Word Rally Championship events in Mexico and New Zealand plus three rounds in the New Zealand Rally Championship.
Pirelli receives exclusive supplier contract
Pirelli, which this year celebrates a century of motorsport success, will be the exclusive tire supplier to the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) for the three-year period 2008-2010.
BFGoodrich ousted by FIA for 2008 and beyond
At the end of the 2006 season, BFGoodrich was riding high, having won two titles in their maiden World Rally Championship season. They landed the manufacturers' title in the hands of the Ford factory team.
Autosport.com (UK): Q & A with Pirelli's Paul Hembery
It's fantastic. It's a victory in terms of the deal, but that's really the only time you get to talk about victory. With a control tyre you drink champagne when you win the deal and probably not again – we'll win every rally next year because ours is the only tyre. It's quite fitting; this year, Pirelli celebrates 100 years of competition.
Scoop (NZ): Hybrid Vehicles to Race in 2008 Rally Championship
Hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles developed by teams of engineering students at New Zealand universities will be racing in the New Zealand Rally Championship in 2008. They will also run as a support class in the WRC Propecia Rally of New Zealand the same year.

02/15
SpeedTV: The Amazing Flying Impreza
This is not a fake. These are the awesome aerial antics of Rally America driver Ken Block and his flying Impreza.
Motoring.co.za: 'Rally Chicks' take a pounding in Tanzania
Lola and Megan had a worrying moment in the first stage when the car died after rocketing over the second jump of the stage.
allAfrica.com: Kenya: Safari Rally Gets Major Boost
Sports Minister Maina Kamanda who handed over the Sh5 million cheque said the Kenya Motor Sport Foundation and KCB had launched a strong bid to see the Safari Rally regains the WRC status. He however challenged the foundation to join the Kenya National Sports Council (KNSC) umbrella body for all sports federations to enjoy government support.
WRC.com: Snow Tires explained
Tyre selection for the two snow rallies (Uddeholm Swedish Rally and Rally Norway) is one of the most crucial decisions a team or driver will have to make. Snow rallying requires completely different mental preparation and car set-up, but understanding how your tyre choice will affect your performance may be the biggest contributor to a successful weekend in the snow.
Motorsport.com: Perce-Neige Maniwaki summary
Toronto driver Andrew Comrie-Picard, with co-driver Marc Goldfarb (USA) has won the first round of the 2007 Canadian Rally Championship in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9. This victory at Rallye Perce-Neige Maniwaki is also his first overall win in a Canadian national event. He leads Americans Matt Iorio and Ole Holter in a Subaru Impreza WRX and Quebeckers Antoine L'Estage and Nathalie Richard in a Hyundai Tiburon 4WD.

02/02
Belfast Telegraph (UK):
Higgins relishing chance of treble title triumph
Mark Higgins had just arrived back at his Powys home from Italy ... and he was shortly to head off again to Cooley Mountain. After that it was on to Galway via a stop-over in Glengormley to acquaint himself with his new team.
Eugene is Suba charged
For Eugene Donnelly the waiting is almost over. Tomorrow morning, Ireland's triple Tarmac rally champion will buckle himself into the cockpit of his new Subaru S12 somewhere up in the Sperrin Mountains and begin preparations for next weekend's Galway International.
Crash.net (UK):
Richards: Subaru will make progress
David Richards has tipped his downtrodden Subaru team to fight back in 2007 following its first winless campaign in more than a decade last year, as the World Rally Championship enters what he believes will be a bright new dawn. The Prodrive chairman faces the arduous task of leading the Japanese marque back to the top step of the rostrum after a dire performance that saw Petter Solberg and Chris Atkinson register a mere four podium finishes between them on their way to a distant third position in the manufacturers' championship in 2006. While he knows it will be an uphill struggle, though, Richards is adamant the major problems have been addressed and steady but substantial progress can now be made.
Q&A: David Richards - EXCLUSIVE.
Prodrive chairman David Richards is the man charged with turning around Subaru's poor form in the 2006 World Rally Championship, but he is convinced brighter times lie ahead, both for the Banbury-based squad and the sport in general.
Official: Ostberg to do seven WRC events.
"Mads is one of the brightest prospects in rallying, fitting perfectly with the Subaru philosophy of developing talented young drivers," said Graham Prew, Prodrive sales manager. "The WRC programme will provide him with a platform to compete with the world's best, including fellow Norwegian and Subaru driver, Petter Solberg."

01/14
Autosport.com (UK): Interview with Colin McRae
1995 World Rally Champion Colin McRae was the first guest on day 2 of the Autosport International Show, telling Henry Hope-Frost on the central stage that he wants to do Le Mans again, why he isn't in WRC right now, and what he thinks of Carlos Sainz.
SWRT: Glenn Macneall: ready for a strong season
Fresh from a Christmas break in Australia, the man who calls the pace notes for Chris Atkinson explains how the crew is gearing up for this year’s World Rally Championship.
Subaru Global: What's goes into setting up a Group N team?
How much time and money (not to mention effort and skill) is required to build an outfit that's capable of getting the right results in the P-WRC?
For expert analysis on the topic, we speak to Bob Hermans, leader of the SYMS (SUBARU Yajima Motor Sports) team, the outfit that took the Group N title in 2004 with Irishman Niall McShea. In 2006, the team ran Finn Aki Teiskonen and Polish driver Leszek Kuzaj.

01/07
Crash.net (UK): Mills: Things looking promising for Subaru in 07.
Petter Solberg's co-driver, Phil Mills has said that they will be looking to bring their car home in the points on the season opening, Rallye Monte Carlo, in less than two weeks time.
SWRT.com: Phil Mills: a strong start is what we need
“It is important to start the year with some points in the bag. If you record a non-finish and get no points, it is such a hollow feeling and you feel like you’re playing catch up for the rest of the season – your start position is wrong for the snow rallies in Sweden and Norway and so on. So a good strong start is exactly what we need.”
Eurosport.co.uk: Gronholm to retire if he wins championship
Marcus Gronholm has revealed that he will quit rallying if he wins the world championship this year.
Gizmag.com (AU): Subaru selling made-to-order, race-ready rally cars
There was once a time, and it wasn’t very long ago, that going rallying meant having a detailed knowledge of every aspect of construction and repair. As major manufacturers become more adept at catering to an array of marketplaces, those manufacturers with a proud sporting heritage are beginning to make complete race cars available, and Subaru Australia is now offering a complete service to race drivers, producing a range of custom motorsport vehicle packages based on the popular Impreza WRX STI spec.C – the Group N FIA homologated car developed by Fuji Heavy Industries in Japan.
Crash.net (UK): Q&A: Keith Murray (Subaru) – EXCLUSIVE
Keith Murray is one of the men in the know when it comes to the logistical challenges that FIA World Rally Championship can throw up during the course of a season. As the transport manager at the Subaru World Rally Team, he knows just what it takes to get from 'A' to 'B' and then from 'B' to 'C' and then... ...'Y' to 'Z'.

More Rally News...