SUBARU MOTORSPORTS: SUBARU RALLY TEAM USA – 2008 SEASON UPDATE
AS THE FACTORY RALLY TEAM FOR SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC., SRT USA COMPETES WITH THE
BEST AMERICAN RALLY TEAMS IN THE RALLY AMERICA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. BOTH SRT USA
DRIVERS HAVE EARNED THEIR SPOTS IN X GAMES RALLY THE LAST TWO YEARS — AN INVITATION
REPEATED FOR X GAMES 14. IF THAT’S NOT ENOUGH FOR YOU, THE TEAM HAS ENTERED
THE 2008 PRODUCTION WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP.
Ken Block/Alex Gelsomino in action in 2008.
SRT
USA IN THE RALLY AMERICA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
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Clockwise from left: SRT USA drivers/co-drivers Travis
Pastrana, Derek Ringer, Alex Gelsomino, and Ken Block.
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The 2008 Rally America National Championship season opened with two–time champion
driver Travis Pastrana defending his crown and Ken Block aiming to improve on his
2007 3rd–place finish in the Championship points. Pastrana drives the #199
Red Bull® STI® and is paired with co–driver
Derek Ringer, who has replaced retired Christian Edstrom. Block drives the #43 MONSTER
Energy™ STI with co–driver Alex Gelsomino.
After five of nine 2008 Rally America National Championship events, Pastrana/Ringer
were second in the standings by one point. Block/Gelsomino were third by only three
points.
Prior to round five (Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally — STPR) in June,
more than 20 points separated first and fifth place. But STPR proved disastrous
for Pastrana/Ringer and Block/Gelsomino in their new 2008 Subaru rally cars. Both
had to retire, as did the front running Andrew Comrie–Picard/Marc Goldfarb
(2006 Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 9RS). Matthew Johnson/Jeremy Wimpey (2007 Subaru WRX®
STI) and Antoine L’Estage/Nathalie Richard (Hyundai Tiburon) closed the gap
so that only 14 points separated the top five.
SRT USA 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI OPEN CLASS RALLY CAR
SRT USA’s new rally cars debuted at Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally
in June, where both were forced to retire. In rough stages that claimed six of the
16 open class competitors, Travis Pastrana/Derek Ringer were stopped by a high–speed
impact with a roadside embankment. Ken Block/Alex Gelsomino suffered rear–suspension
damage, which ended their bid for points.
The team’s technical partner, Vermont SportsCar, prepared stock 2008 Subaru
Impreza WRX STI models for competition in the Rally America National Championship’s
Open Class. Compared to the previous STI, the third generation, 5–Door WRX
STI has a longer wheelbase, a wider track, and a double–wishbone rear suspension
— all of which improve handling and road–holding capabilities.
SRT USA IN THE PRODUCTION WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP
While participating in the full Rally America National Championship in the United
States, Travis Pastrana/Derek Ringer compete in the Production World Rally Championship
(PWRC) abroad. During the first part of the season, Ken Block/Alex Gelsomino have
taken part in American rally events besides those sanctioned by Rally America. However,
their schedules include Rally of New Zealand, Rally Japan, and Wales Rally GB in
the second half of the season.
PWRC AROUND THE WORLD
PWRC events are run in conjunction with eight of the 15 World Rally Championship
(WRC) rounds during the season. Teams choose six of the eight PWRC rallies in which
to compete and earn points.
The PWRC, which is governed by the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile
(FIA), has different rules and procedures from Rally America. (The FIA is based
in Geneva, Switzerland and governs worldwide motorsports, including the WRC and
Formula 1.)
Among the PWRC’s procedures is the reconnaissance process for preparing pace
notes used by the team during rally stages. Rally America prepares the pace notes
for its rallies.
Super special stages are part of many WRC events. These stages usually are set up
in stadiums, where spectators can watch teams compete side by side on parallel tracks.
Such stages are similar to the X Games Rally events of the last two years.
Around the world, the 15 rounds of WRC events draw millions of enthusiastic spectators.
They line the stages, sometimes presenting so much of a safety issue that stages
have been canceled.
PASTRANA/RINGER RESULTS
A rollover in the first stage of Rally Argentina set the tone for SRT USA’s
first two 2008 PWRC events. Despite losing brakes and breaking suspension and steering
components in different stages, the team still managed three top–five stage
times before having to retire.
In the Acropolis Rally, the car suffered punctured tires, broken suspension components,
and a damaged transmission. Even so, Pastrana/Ringer had two top–five and
10 top–10 stages.
SRT USA 2007 GROUP N RALLY CAR
Another difference between PWRC and Rally America is in the rally car campaigned
by SRT USA. For the first half of the 2008 season, SRT USA is fielding a 2007 Subaru
Group N rally car. Prepared by the team’s technical partner Vermont SportsCar,
the cars for the PWRC begin as stock 2007 Subaru Impreza WRX STI models.
The interiors are stripped to reduce weight, and the shell is welded along the seams
for added strength. Multipoint roll cages are welded into place.
Besides the roll cage, safety features include carbon/Kevlar® RECARO
SPA Pro Racer competition seats with Head and Neck Restraint System (HANS®)
and a competition fuel cell. The fuel cell contains the race fuel in a flexible
Kevlar bag tank.
Engine modifications include a 32 mm turbocharger inlet restrictor, per FIA Group
N regulations. The restrictor limits the engine to approximately 270 horsepower.
Torque reaches approximately 425 lb–ft.
The cars are fitted with 5–speed, close–ratio, dog–engagement
gearboxes. These allow the drivers to shift without using the clutch. Settings for
the Driver Controlled Center Differential’s electronic control unit allow
more precise and varied tuning of the torque delivery between the four wheels.
For the chassis, stock dampers are replaced by heavy–duty rally dampers by
Öhlins Racing AB. They are fully adjustable to help meet the demands of different
types of rally road surfaces.
Mud flaps and skid plates are added to the exteriors. So are roof–mounted
air scoops.
See images of the work that Vermont SportsCar performs at www.vtcar.com
The team is scheduled to debut the 2008 Subaru Group N rally car for Rally New Zealand
at the end of August.
SRT USA IN X GAMES 14 RALLY – PREVIEW
“X Games 12 vaulted rally as a sport to the next level and also exposed it
to a new audience.” – James Han, Motorsports Marketing Manager for Subaru
of America, Inc. after X Games 12 in 2006
For two years, American rally enthusiasts have seen their favorite sport dramatically
highlighted within the framework of X Games, now in its 14th year of showcasing
action sports. Held during late July and early August, X Games includes top names
in sports such as BMX freestyle, moto X, skateboarding, and surfing. Other action
sports are introduced into the lineup on a regular basis, and that’s how rally
was included for X Games 12 (2006) and 13 (2007).
Rally is scheduled again for X Games 14. Although exact timing and the format haven’t
been announced, the rally event will take place during X Games 14 the week of July
28 through August 3. X Games Rally will be held in and around The Home Depot Center
in Carson, California.
SRT USA TO COMPETE
Both of SRT USA’s
cars will compete in the event in their new 2008 Impreza WRX STI rally cars. Travis
Pastrana — no stranger to X Games with multiple medals for his moto X freestyle
prowess — will be attempting to win his second rally gold medal at the games,
along with his co–driver Derek Ringer. Pastrana won gold in X Games 12 Rally
with co–driver Christian Edstrom and bronze in X Games 13 Rally. For X Games
14, Pastrana/Ringer are entered in their #199 Red Bull® STI.
Teammates Ken Block/Alex Gelsomino are entered in their #43 MONSTER Energy™
STI. Their track record at X Games includes a bronze medal in X Games 12 and a silver
medal in X Games 13. So they, too, are primed to drive hard for gold.
SUBARU IN X GAMES RALLY
For each of the two preceding years, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) has fielded four
rally cars. In addition to the Pastrana/Edstrom and Block/Gelsomino entries, former
World Rally Championship Drivers’ Champion Colin McRae participated by invitation
both years. Trans–Am and NASCAR® competitor Boris Said was
a guest driver last year.
Here are the two teams added by SOA for each event:
- X Games 12
- Colin McRae/Nicky Grist in No Fear (#7)
- Tanner Foust/Scott Crouch in Rockstar (#429)
- X Games 13
- Colin McRae/Carolyn Bosley in No Fear (#7)
- Boris Said/John Buffum in BFGoodrich® (#60)
Subaru involvement hasn’t been confined to the rally event at X Games. For
X Games 13, Subaru was a gold–level sponsor and exclusive automobile. Showing
the then–new 2008 Impreza WRX, Subaru had extensive presence at both The Home
Depot Center and STAPLES Center. Subaru returns as a gold–level sponsor and
exclusive automobile for X Games 14.
SOA provided ESPN with a 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX to be awarded as the grand prize
for the Subaru Most Outstanding Athlete of the Games — BMX freestyle rider
Kevin Robinson. Read more about X Games Rally by choosing from the following
Drive Performance links:
Version 3.2 and
Version 4.3.
SRT USA 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI OPEN CLASS RALLY CAR
