Cotterik
09-14-2005, 05:37 PM
The car that will spearhead Subaru's 2006 World Rally Championship title campaign has been officially revealead at the Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany. The first comprehensive set of official pictures follow in the wake of a teaser image that was made available by the Japanese manufacturer in early August.
The all-new Impreza WRC2006 is based on the revamped road-going version of the car and most noticably features a heavily restyled front-end. Both the road and WRC cars also have a wealth of changes under the skin, however, with the WRC car being designed to the new cost-conscious regulations for next year which ban the use of sophisticated active differentials and water-injected turbo engines.
The Impreza WRC2006 prototype has already been tested in Sardinia and will make its debut on next year's season-opening Rally Automobile Monte Carlo. "The new rules for 2006 meant we had to bring in a new car from the start of the year rather than a couple of events in, which has been the case in recent years," Lapworth said recently. "The timing has actually worked out well for us. The most noticeable thing is obviously the new bodyshell, but the new rules mean the car will be quite different under the skin."
2003 title winner Petter Solberg said he was confident that the new car had the potential for him to challenge for the drivers' crown once again after a difficult season this year. He has already admitted that he thinks that the new breed of less sophisticated World Rally Cars should be more suited to his driving style.
"I've not driven the new car yet, but I know it should be good," he said. "There are one or two very interesting things planned, but obviously I shouldn't really talk about them. I think we're looking at quite a big step forwards. There were some things we could see about this current car that need more work and I think we will address them with the new one. It's hard for me to say more about it until I have driven it but I think it should be very good indeed."
If matt or anyone wants to add this thread to the hideout feel free.
The all-new Impreza WRC2006 is based on the revamped road-going version of the car and most noticably features a heavily restyled front-end. Both the road and WRC cars also have a wealth of changes under the skin, however, with the WRC car being designed to the new cost-conscious regulations for next year which ban the use of sophisticated active differentials and water-injected turbo engines.
The Impreza WRC2006 prototype has already been tested in Sardinia and will make its debut on next year's season-opening Rally Automobile Monte Carlo. "The new rules for 2006 meant we had to bring in a new car from the start of the year rather than a couple of events in, which has been the case in recent years," Lapworth said recently. "The timing has actually worked out well for us. The most noticeable thing is obviously the new bodyshell, but the new rules mean the car will be quite different under the skin."
2003 title winner Petter Solberg said he was confident that the new car had the potential for him to challenge for the drivers' crown once again after a difficult season this year. He has already admitted that he thinks that the new breed of less sophisticated World Rally Cars should be more suited to his driving style.
"I've not driven the new car yet, but I know it should be good," he said. "There are one or two very interesting things planned, but obviously I shouldn't really talk about them. I think we're looking at quite a big step forwards. There were some things we could see about this current car that need more work and I think we will address them with the new one. It's hard for me to say more about it until I have driven it but I think it should be very good indeed."
If matt or anyone wants to add this thread to the hideout feel free.