The Subaru Impreza WRC2008 rally car will make its competitive debut in the upcoming Acropolis Rally in Greece next week.The new model will be the most radically different Subaru WRC rally car with pre-launch images revealing a new livery for the 2008 car of blue and silver instead of the yellow decals which have graced the manufacturer’s cars since 1993. Of course, the new rally car - based on the Impreza road car - will be in the form of a hatchback rather than sedan.
hat remains unchanged is the familiar Subaru powertrain of a horizontally-opposed turbocharged engine and symmetrical four-wheel drive system underneath the new hatchback body shell.
“We are very excited to be able to launch the all-new Impreza WRC2008 ahead of schedule,” said David Richards, Subaru World Rally Team principal. “It is testament to the dedication and commitment of the team behind the scenes in the UK and at STi [Subaru Tecnica International] in Japan. Just as the latest Impreza road car represents a new era for Subaru so the WRC2008 represents a new era for all of us at the Subaru World Rally Team and I am confident that we will arrive in Greece able to fight competitively.”
The Subaru Impreza WRC2008 will be piloted by Petter Solberg and Chris Atkinson.
Subaru looks set to unveil their WRC car for the 2008 rally season in concept form at the prestigious Frankfurt Motor Show next month.
WRC driver Petter Solberg will be on hand to help with proceedings whilst the concept car should provide us with more hints of the styling direction of the upcoming WRX STi model in the Subaru passenger car range.
