There’s no hiding from the fact that the World Rally Championship is entering a crucial phase as it wishes to establish its future, improve its appeal and attract more manufacturers. And last weekend’s Acropolis Rally gave both the series and the FIA every incentive to ensure that its pathway is defined when the governing body’s president Mohammed Ben Sulayem uttered the words the majority of rally fans have been wishing to hear ever since 2008.
Speaking at a media round table in the build-up to the Greek event, Ben Sulayem revealed that Subaru is considering a return to the WRC.
The Japanese manufacturer is synonymous with rallying. Its Impreza helped to forge cult heroes Colin McRae, Richard Burns and Petter Solberg, who won drivers’ titles with the marque in 1995, 2001 and 2003 respectively to add to manufacturers’ crowns in 1995-97. But Subaru has been absent from rallying’s top tier since pulling out at the height of the global financial crisis in 2008.
“It’s not a secret I had a good meeting with Mr Akio Toyoda, and I asked him what we can do to attract manufacturers to the WRC and I listened to someone who is passionate – and he mentioned Subaru,” recounted Ben Sulayem of his chat with the Toyota chairman at the Le Mans 24 Hours in June.
“They [Toyota] own a percentage of Subaru and they are going to support an initiative of Subaru entering. And I feel someone like him, when he speaks, he speaks with confidence. I hope that some of that will come.”
Toyoda is a passionate supporter of the WRC and told Autosport at last month’s Rally Finland that he is actively trying to encourage more manufacturers to join a championship in which Toyota has become the benchmark team since its re-entry in 2017. The interesting twist to this is Ben Sulayem suggesting that Toyota could supply an engine to Subaru, which doesn’t have an eligible block in its range.
But expectations should be tempered at this point, and there’s a lot to play out before this dream ticket becomes reality.
Source: Autosport