Subaru Shift focus in ProRally for '04

greg donovan · Post by **greg donovan** » Thu Jan 15, 2004 5:51 am

SUBARU SHIFTS FOCUS OF 2004 US MOTOR SPORTS PROGRAM

CHERRY HILL, N.J., Jan. 14, 2003 -- Subaru of America, Inc., the only car company that features Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive as standard equipment on every vehicle in its product line, today announced it will shift the focus of its motor sports program in the United States for 2004. Subaru will withdraw its factory team from competition this year in the SCCA ProRally Championship Series, and focus support on the efforts of Subaru privateers through increased contingency funds and on-site parts support under the new Subaru Rally Support Program. The company will also contribute to the SCCA Partnership Bonus Program this year.

"We came to this decision based primarily on the lack of manufacturer competition within the Open Class category for 2004," said Tim Bennett, director of marketing programs, Subaru of America, Inc. "Subaru will remain the largest official contingency sponsor of the 2004 SCCA ProRally Championship and contribute to the SCCA Partnership Bonus Program, exhibiting our commitment to facilitating the growth of rallying in the US."

Under the new Subaru Rally Support Program, the company will maintain the highest total contingency payout through the Subaru Championship Cup program and offer contingency funds to Subaru entrants in the Production GT Class and at selected ClubRally events. Subaru will provide a Subaru Rally Parts Support Truck on-site at most ProRally events to offer competitors access to Genuine Subaru Parts.

The SCCA Partnership Bonus Program offers event organizers financial and operational assistance for continued development of their individual events. This initiative is designed to improve such things as operational consistency throughout the championship, marketing and public relations efforts. For more information visit www.scca.com.

In addition, Subaru will continue to be the primary broadcast sponsor of the World Rally Championship programming on Speed Channel for 2004.

About Subaru of America, Inc.

Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered near Philadelphia, the company markets and distributes all-wheel drive Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of nearly 600 dealers across the United States. Subaru is the only car company that offers symmetrical all-wheel drive as standard equipment on every vehicle in its product line. For additional information please visit www.media.subaru.com.

http://vocuspr.vocus.com/VocusPR30/DotN ... ache=False

legacy92ej22t · Post by **legacy92ej22t** » Thu Jan 15, 2004 5:59 am

That blows!

No Factory team in the SCCA Prorally?

I can't believe it.....

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Thu Jan 15, 2004 7:54 am

I hope this at least means morew money to the WRC effort...

Steve

greg donovan · Post by **greg donovan** » Fri Jan 16, 2004 4:44 am

the us and wrc efforts are seperate. as the article says the reason wasnt money and i do believe that. the rally community has been trying to get them to do this for a while it will be good for the sport in the long run. but, i too will miss the blue monsters in the woods!

greg

rallysam · Post by **rallysam** » Fri Jan 16, 2004 2:59 pm

greg donovan wrote:the us and wrc efforts are seperate. as the article says the reason wasnt money and i do believe that. the rally community has been trying to get them to do this for a while it will be good for the sport in the long run. but, i too will miss the blue monsters in the woods!

greg

The rally community has been trying to get them to [quit?] for a while? Why would people want them to quit? Or did I misunderstand what you were saying?

JasonGrahn · Post by **JasonGrahn** » Fri Jan 16, 2004 8:18 pm

1st..Tim o'neil decided to retire - no more driver for the AFR focus.
2nd.. Mitsubishi pulled their factory effort. This leaves Subaru w/ no competition.
3rd.. Subaru decides to pull official cars and focus on their contingency plans and provide on-site parts.

It's going to be a VERY competitive season. makes me wish i was doing the full pro season.

legacy92ej22t · Post by **legacy92ej22t** » Fri Jan 16, 2004 8:52 pm

No AFR Focus, no factory Mistubishi team and no factory Subaru team!? This just keeps getting better and better doesn't it!

Why did Mistu. pull out?

I'm sorry but without Factory teams I don't see a very bright future for the SCCA Pro Rally

I have plans to go to the STPR here in PA in June and the MFRPR in Maine in July. I was really hoping to see a Subaru, Mistubishi shootout damn it! I'm not happy about this at all.

JasonGrahn · Post by **JasonGrahn** » Fri Jan 16, 2004 8:55 pm

legacy92ej22t wrote:Why did Mistu. pull out?

Per Mitsubishi, they have shown the capability of the lancer, now they are going to focus on brand sales. (i think that they used last season as a testbed for WRC items, notice they hopped back in the WRC ring this year)

I'm sorry but without Factory teams I don't see a very bright future for the SCCA Pro Rally

I do. I see lots of VERY competitive behavior and a very survival-of-the-fittest scenario.

I have plans to go to the STPR here in PA in June and the MFRPR in Maine in July. I was really hoping to see a Subaru, Mistubishi shootout damn it! I'm not happy about this at all.

I'm sure you will, but they will be in the hands of privateers.

greg donovan · Post by **greg donovan** » Sat Jan 17, 2004 2:19 am

there is a large vocal group of competitors that felt the money spent by Mitsubishi and subaru was a little out of line with how the sport was growing. they felt that the manufacturers money would be better spent supporting private teams in the way they are next year w/more money at events and parts support. subaru will get a much better return on investment and this is the first step towards more prize money at events (granted a dollar would be more money than there is now!) the top teams were using over 6000 in tires a weekend and that is a little silly for here but if one does it others will have to if they want to have a remote shot of beating them.

there will still be lots of subaru and mitsu battles but like jason said in the hands of private teams. watch for the yellow sti of doug havir to put on a good show as well as seamus burke and kiwi leon styles in thier evo's. and dont forget about the great GN battle im sure shane and mark will be gunning for each other again next year.

remeber diggins was a privateer in the av car in 02 so you will not be dissapointed by private teams. so keep your plans and go to the rallies and continue to spread the good word of rally and have fun!

greg

i agree that the series could suffer w/out manufacturer competion but now is not the time for subaru to win the championship of one.

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Subaru Shift focus in ProRally for '04

Subaru Shift focus in ProRally for '04