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WRC

Australian Chris Atkinson will hit the roads of Greece this weekend in his brand new car.

It will be the first appearance of the Impreza WRC 2008, which offers the Subaru team new hope that it will be able to get back to winning rallies.

Not only does the new car run a new colour scheme and logos, it is the first to be designed using computational fluid dynamics.

The Subaru World Rally Team has radically restyled the body-shell and is the first Impreza World Rally Car to not sport Subaru’s trademark bonnet scoop. The car has a front-mounted intercooler and the air intake takes the form of an internal scoop fed from a grill in the front bumper.

Atkinson said he has a very good feeling about the car after a series of tests

“It’s exciting to be able to compete in a brand new car. As you’d expect, the team has done a good job, and it’s a big step in the right direction for us,” Atkinson said.

“I got to grips with the new car very quickly. I’d say there’s a bit of fine-tuning still needed to get it fitting best to my driving style, as you’d imagine.”

“The more time I spend behind the wheel in different conditions will make it more and more comfortable. Overall though, I’m very happy and looking forward to really getting stuck in with it.”

Atkinson is in no doubt that the new car is an improvement over the Impreza WRC2007.

“For me, the balance of the new car is good and the reaction and handling is a good step forward, which has all come from the new overall package and the development of the chassis. It feels a lot more responsive and a lot easier to drive.

“It’s still a World Rally Car and it still has similar features, similar engine, and similar gearbox, so it doesn’t feel foreign, but it performs very differently.

Atkinson, who is currently third in the Championship, says he will be taking it a bit easy in the car’s first race.

“It’s the first time out in a new car so it’s very exciting but you’re always a little cautious,” he said.

“If the feeling’s good I’ll be pushing straight away. There’s no reason not to, and obviously I’m looking forward to the opportunity to see where we are with the car and see if we can start to fight for wins for Subaru again.”

Subaru has also released the technical details of the STI racer:

Impreza WRC2008

Engine: H-4. Flat four-cylinder, 16 valve, turbocharged
Capacity: 1994cc
Bore: 92.0mm
Stroke: 75.0mm
Engine management: Subaru programmable electronic engine management system
Power: 300bhp @ 5500rpm
Torque: 650Nm @ 3000rpm
Transmission: Six-speed electro-hydraulic, Electro-hydraulically controlled centre differential, Mechanical front and rear differentials
Drive system: Subaru Symmetrical All Wheel Drive
Suspension: Front: MacPherson strut, Rear: MacPherson strut
Shock absorbers: Bos, fully adjustable
Brakes: AP Racing 310mm ventilated discs and six-pot calipers front and rear. For asphalt use, front brakes are 378mm ventilated discs with six-pot calipers
Exhaust system: Inconnel with Subaru anti-lag system. Fitted with catalytic converters
Steering: Power assisted rack and pinion
Dimensions: Overall length: 4415mm
Overall width: 1800mm
Overall height: 1475mm
Wheelbase: 2635mm
Car weight: 1230kgs (WRC regulation min.)
Data systems: Single integrated electronic system controlling engine, transmission and data-logging
In-car display: LCD colour monitor with eight selectable data screens
Tyres: Pirelli (championship control tyre)
Radio equipment: Kenwood
Turbo charger: IHI - with WRC-regulation 34mm restrictor and Subaru anti-lag system
Spark plugs: DENSO
Wheels: BBS: 15” diameter for gravel, 18” for tarmac
Fuel tank capacity: 80 litres
Design: Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for entire car

With swrt.com