man this time of year is boring when it comes to rallying...

well for those of you who have not seen the feb 03 sport compact , they have a nice article on prodrive, uk. here are some stats about the wrc impreza.

15 - number of 6spd. electronic transmissions built for the race season.
$95,000 - price of said tranny
$100,000+ - price of the engine, which unrestriced would produce over 600 hp to the wheels.
300 - approx. hp allowed by the fia
$5000 - price of the carbon fiber front fascia on the Petters wrx.
3500 - approx. number of shifts made in one rally.
1 - number of times the $95k tranny is used in the wrc. they are then sold to private race teams.
$500,000 - STARTING price of a season old wrc car, that you can run out and buy!!

 

i think petter should be even closer to the top this year. hopefully he will gain some ground on the amazing gronholm. that guy is fast, and his 206 just seems to be on top of things. maybe subaru can move up in the manufactures (sp i know) points this year. they were 3rd last year, but the difference from 3rd to 1st was huge. and ford was in 2nd! how awful is that.
well yes i am excited that monte carlo is approaching. i am so mad i don't have speed tv anymore though. i think i need to find someone to tape for me!!

 

yeah i would love to go overseas and see a race. monte carlo would be pretty awsome. i wish wrc would hold a race in the us. they have in the past right? maybe with prodrive, and the many other rally inspired companys in the us, it could happen again. i am just waiting for the maine forest rally july. i live about 2 hours from the site, so i will be there all weekend. about the taping, i happen to know someone who i used to work w/ who can do it for me. i just gotta ask him.
and yes i would agree crashing the rally car is a bad thing... what class do you race rs22b? what car?

-PJ

 

hey if you do make it to monte carlo, share the love and take some pics to post if you can. that would be super! i wish i could be there myself. i was looking at some photos from the winter club rally here in maine in december. some very nice cars showed up for that one. i didn't get to go though... if only the pro rally series and club rallys could get a little more attention/ advertising. they spend so much time on roundy round nascar i start to get dizzy. then again rally is about going out to the stages and going for a hike, rather than sitting on your butt all morning.
what does anyone think about the direction rally racing will take? more or less coverage? more interest or declining? i think the intro of the STi and EVO in the us could BOOST (maybe around 20psi or so) the popularity some. have fun in the uk weasel. and don't forget, they drive on the LEFT!!


-PJ

 

Sweet photos would rock.
Stupid speed tv...
Oh well WRC.com radio on the day, coverage on speed the following Thursday.

 

This has been the longest 8 weeks of my life waiting for world rally. I hope SPEED still has same day coverage