The Japanese manufacturer Subaru has entered next year’s IRC – International Rally Championship. However, they will not register any factory teams but instead will allow privateers running Subaru’s in the championship to score manufacturer points. Alongside Fiat, Honda, Mitsubishi, Peugeot, Proton, Skoda and Volkswagen from next year we will be finding Subaru there as well, making them the 8th team in the championship. After their WRC withdrawal, Subaru hasn’t had a factory team in any other rally championship but they now claim that the IRC is the way to go:  “The IRC provides an ideal arena to develop our customer competition activities. With approximately 1000 Subaru cars rallying around the world, this is a great opportunity for our customers.” said Subaru’s motor sport director.

There isn’t much else to say really, maybe this “entry” in the IRC is the first step in preparing a factory team for the championship, maybe they want to acquire precious data to set up their street cars better, with the chaotic motor sport climate lately, anything is possible. Anyway, we wish them good luck and a speedy return to the WRC as Subaru is was one good rally team.