I heard it was the gearbox choice that would kill off Subaru. The FIA want to use a Sadev (I think) sequential. I believe it does not come in a boxer format. East West only.
But I also read somewhere that Subaru are in partnership with Toyota I think developing a car with a noraml engine layout so that all might change. Badge engineering it seems.

Thumbs down if they go with the Sadev. Only the French could implement a rule to restrict everyone to using French transmission that are full of fail and only suit a transverse engine.

I think the WRC is on a road to nowhere.

1) Tough economic times.
2) Only the most dedicated can be bothered getting off their asses and driving for ages to see a rally car for two seconds. The average punter will go to Langley Park / Gloucester Park and lets be honest it is a pretty boring show they put on there because they will only ever make up a couple of seconds but if they punted it they are out of the event.
3) Costs still spiralling out of control. S2000 was meant to be a cheap option. The steering rack out of Bates S2000 car is $10k FFS. The running costs of a WRC and S2000 are very similar. Prodrive told us at a WRXOC meeting that the windscreen of a subaru wrc car was USD$10k and each car would go through a minimum of two per event. One line in the rule book would mean that they would all have to use standard screens at $200 ea.
4) Only two manufacturer teams. i.e. people who will pour mega money in under the guise of brand development.
5) Too few cars / drivers that are competitive. If they could get loeb and hervinon in the same team it would be an absolute procession.


I used to be a massive WRC fan but to be honest I dont even bother anymore.

Brendon

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Losing is worse than death. You have to live with losing....

Sounds like Europe is running the WRC now 1600cc? That's too small I don't care how much power it makes.

The cars are just so far from the reality that it just has lost a lot of the spectacle knowing that you could buy one of these cars with some of the rally technology included that's why I bought mine. I look at the Tasmanian rally as a good event, people racing real cars on real roads with real crashes.

I must admit I have not watched the fia wrc since Subaru pulled out!
Looks even more like they will never return again with all these rules.
The death of the rally as we know it. Now it will be 1600 turbo hot hatches racing.
I didn't know they sold 4 wheel drive 1600 turbos in Europe though?!!
Or maybe they will be soon!

WRC used to be awesome...Lancia, Subaru, Toyota, Ford, Mitsu.
Now it's full of french crap, with boring drivers.
Bring back the hot cars and crazy drivers and WRC can survive.

Everything suffers from a cycle, WRC is going through a bad one at the moment, hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel!!!!

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www.racewars.com.au

Hopefully the light isn't the train coming down the tunnel the other way...

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MY00 Impreza WRX | MY11 Liberty GT Premium[/COLOR]

I miss the old days

Lancia, Subaru, Toyota, Ford, Mitsubishi, Peugeot, even Skoda and Seat.
Juha, Carlos, Tommi, Ari, Colin, Richard, Didier, Loix, Biasion, Delecour, Possum.

So many great names and cars. Rally Australia was the highlight of my year every year for 16 years and the teams and drivers were so accessible. I got to meet all my heros face to face at one point or another. I still have a windscreen from Carlos's focus in my shed.
I cant believe what the WRC has become now, such a shadow of its former self.....

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MY00 Impreza WRX | MY11 Liberty GT Premium[/COLOR]

^^^ Yep, totally agree. Some good times at the 'real' after party. Sheraton from midnight 'till all hours. Worlds best drivers letting their hair down (except Didier Auriol who didn't have any) A lot of sponsorship deals were done under the influence there.
Cost a small fortune to buy a round of drinks there though.