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Bruce Newton28 Apr 2014
NEWS

Subaru's rallying call

But ARC off limits because all-wheel drive WRX STI is ineligible
Subaru would return to the Australian Rally Championship "in a flash" if it could win the title with the new WRX STI.
But the ARC is currently for two-wheel drive cars, a strategy driven by a desire to make the championship more relevant to passenger vehicle manufacturers.
However, Subaru, which has made all-wheel drive a non-negotiable of its product lineup – apart from the rear-wheel drive BRZ coupe – understandably wants to show off all-paw grip.
"We would only go back if the circumstances were right and the circumstances mean we would want to run our performance car, which is the WRX STI," Subaru Australia managing director Nick Senior told motoring.com.au.
Subaru dominated the ARC with the Impreza WRX and WRX STI, winning the championship 10 years in a row between 1996 and 2005, with the late Possum Bourne and Cody Crocker in the driver's seat.
"We can't participate in the Australian Rally Championship and win it, because all-wheel drive turbo cars can't win the Australian Rally Championship," said Senior.
"If we were allowed to run all-wheel drive turbocharged cars, which are a pretty inherent part of our DNA, we would be in there in a flash."
ARC board director Scott Pedder, who is also one of the leading drivers in the championship, told motoring.com.au that Subaru could run a WRX STI in the 4WD National Rally Series, which is run in conjunction with the ARC. However, cars competing in this category are not eligible to win an ARC event or the title.
If Subaru did want to contest the ARC it could use the BRZ, or it was also legal to run a two-wheel drive version of an all-wheel drive car such as the WRX STI.
"The reason we went two-wheel drive was to try and get back to those days where we did have manufacturers involved by having a sport where you are promoting cars that are commonly being sold on the road," Pedder said. 
"It's great that Subaru believes that the Australian championship is a worthwhile part of their brand," he added. "No doubt, sitting on the sidelines, the decision to move away from rallying worldwide has hurt that brand.
"So I am not surprised that Nick is saying he wants to see the STI back into motorsport and the Australian Rally Championship would make the most sense. But at the moment ... the outright category is for two-wheel drive cars only."
Subaru Australia's local rally program dovetailed with the Japanese company's hugely successful global World Rally Championship campaign, which saw the late Colin McRae rise to super stardom in a series of Prodrive-developed Impreza WRXs.
Intriguingly, Subaru's renewed interest in the ARC, which is sponsored by East Coast Bullbars and run over six rounds, comes as rumours circulate of the Japanese brand's interest in returning to the WRC, which is still open to four-wheel drives.
Senior said Subaru had made its views and desires clear to the ARC board.
"I haven't spoken to them for a while. They know very clearly where Subaru sits on it and if they are not interested in it, that's fine."
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