Subaru World Rally Team Ready For Germany

Topics:  Subaru, Rallye Deutschland

Anthony Fontanelle
August 21, 2007

After failing once again at the Rally Finland to land in the top three, the Subaru World Rally Team is now looking forward to a good performance at the Rallye Deutschland which will end on the 19th of this month after starting on the 17th. The event will have nineteen stages covering a total of 356.27 kilometers of asphalt roads.

This event will be the first time for the team’s cars to run on asphalt this season. Although that may be the case, the team is still confident that they are in a position to have a good performance at the event. The reason for this is that the team has tested the new car on asphalt roads and the result is confidence-boosting.

The event will also be the first time that the car will be using BF Goodrich tires on asphalt. Paul Howarth, the Subaru World Rally Team operations director, has this to say about their use of BFGoodrich tires: “Germany is our second event using BFGoodrich tires on asphalt. We and the drivers have more experience of the tires following our tests which should work to our advantage.”

Howarth continued saying that it is vital for the team to gather pertinent information regarding the weather. This data will be used by the team in choosing the right tire. “The weather is likely to play a massive role in the rally as the region is prone to inclement weather. One of the biggest challenges is ensuring we gather the correct information to enable the drivers and engineers to select the right tire. Germany is not a place where you play with setup much as on the flat and smooth roads, tire choice in itself can win or lose the rally,” he claims.

Of the team’s three drivers, Peter Solberg has the most number of points although he is currently sixth in the drivers’ standings. Chris Atkinson is seventh and the team’s third driver who first entered the fray this season at the Rally Finland, Xavier Pons is on 14th place. All of the three drivers are competing in the Subaru Impreza WRC which was developed by the Japanese automaker Subaru and uses parts such as Subaru pressure plates engineered for the demand of rallying.

Solberg has this to say about the next event: “Germany is a good rally and one that demands utmost respect.” He added that: “I’ve been doing some go-karting in Norway, using it as a little bit of training and trying to get a better feeling of driving on asphalt before Germany. The test last month went well; I think it was the best sealed surface test ever for us so I’m feeling good about it and really looking forward to it.”

Pons, on the other hand, is considering the weather as a possible deciding factor in the event. “I like Germany as a rally but it is certainly not easy. It’s made more difficult because of the weather which is very unpredictable and can change very quickly.” Leg 1 of the event is already in the books and Pons is sitting on eighth place.

Source:  Amazines.com