One of the most prominent names in rallying history has once again proved that it refuses to lose sight of its roots. Continuing on with the most lucrative contingency program in North American rally racing for the 2012 Rally America Championship will be dirt-flinging Subaru. Named the Subaru Rally Support Program, the main goal set by Subaru of America and partner, Vermont SportsCars, is to offer winnings for drivers. With over $20,000 available to earn at each event, the program focuses on Subarus in the Super Production (SP) class and will offer winnings all the way to 10th place finishers.
“By announcing a continuation in the [Subaru] Rally Support Program, Subaru reaffirms our commitment to privateer entrants campaigning our products in Rally America events and to the growth of rally in the United States,” said James Han, motorsports marketing manager for Subaru of America. Created in 2009 as a middle ground between the restrictive Production GT and out-right fast Open Class, SP has becoming increasingly popular for Rally America. The allowance of modifications can put some SP cars near the Open Class level as the addition of key components can make any WRX and/or STI faster. Larger brakes mean shorter stops and a larger turbo restrictor plate means more power from the growling flat fours. “Subaru as a brand, and our WRX and WRX STI models in particular, are widely recognized as having rally-DNA and being associated with performance and rallying in general.”
Source: Subaru
