Subaru denies ARC decision

Update, July 18: Subaru Australia MD Nick Senior has clarified suggestions the company was reyturning to the Australian rally title. In an email, Senior offered the following: "We are bringing in a limited number of recently FIA homologated WRX STIs (current shape) for motorsport use (only.) 

"Three went to NZ where one has been sold to a competitor and we have one at PBMS [Possum Bourne Motor Sport] who are putting a cage in it for us. It will be promoted/sold as an ideal vehicle for club/semi-serious enthusiasts and will be priced likewise – base vehicle with a cage, people can fit the rest out themselves. This PBMS car will be used for displays at dealerships, events etc. When it is sold another will be built for display. (That is the remaining car in NZ). 

"Seven cars have just arrived in Sydney. Two were sold a day after their arrival... 

"As for motorsport, yep we continually look at rallying and other areas but have not made any decision to or not to..."

As the Australian Rally Championship moves to return all-wheel drive to the forefront in 2016 there’s been increasing speculation that Subaru could make a return to the local stages with its iconic STI brand.

The seed of this speculation was planted at last year’s local WRX launch, where Subaru Australia chief Nick Senior told this reporter that “if the rules went back to all-wheel drive, we’d be back.”

The concept has now sprouted, with confirmation that Subaru Australia has imported seven rally-homologated WRX STI sedans which meet the FIA’s latest NR4 rally regulations. These machines are not road-registerable.

Adding fuel to a rally return are these phone images of one such STI leaving for Tasmania on the back of a Les Walkden Rallying transport truck. It is believed a second is in the transporter’s covered section.

Walkden is no stranger to rallying Subarus, including for multiple ARC champ Cody Crocker’s successful, factory-supported Asia-Pacific assault in 2006.

It is believed LWR has purchased two of the seven and they are returning to LWR headquarters for stripping and rally preparation, though whether there’s a level of factory support coming is not yet clear.

When questioned on the presence of these STI racers, Subaru Australia National Corporate Affairs Manager David Rowley said: “We’ve not got any plans to approach the ARC, but you can’t rule anything in or out for the future.”

On the import of these machines specifically, Rowley added: “We will have an announcement shortly, but it won’t involve a return to the ARC”.

Instead, Rowley suggested the remaining vehicles would be sold to interested parties for their own motorsport pursuits.

In addition to several Australian Rally Championships, Subaru Australia has in the past entered STIs in tarmac rallying and circuit disciplines, including endurance events such as the Bathurst 12-Hour, though Rowley denied any thought of entering next year’s 12-Hour.

Watch this space for more news when Subaru’s official statement is released.

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