Subaru Confirms IRC Programme in 2010

After one year of absence from of all major rallying competitions worldwide, Japanese manufacturer Subaru announced its official return in the FIA-sanctioned series. However, the good news only extends to the International Rally Challenge (IRC), as this is the only championship in which the Group N Impreza model has a chance at fighting for a top position next season.

The announcement was made by Shigeo Sugaya, motorsports director of Subaru, who revealed that a programme inside the IRC was eyed by his company ever since the series was created 3 years ago.

“We are very happy to join the IRC, a series that we have been keenly observing since its creation three years ago. The IRC provides an ideal arena to develop our customer competition activities,” said Sugaya in a press release for the media.

“With approximately 1,000 Subaru cars rallying around the world, this is a great opportunity for our customers to take part in the famous rallies showcased by the IRC and to benefit from the excellent promotion that comes with it,” continued the Japanese official.

“We are very honored to welcome Subaru competitors into the IRC family, which gets bigger and better. Subaru is an iconic name in motorsport, which has been a mainstay of customer competition for many years," added the IRC general manager, Marcello Lotti.

As compared to their big brother the WRC, the International Rally Challenge benefited from the presence of 7 manufacturers during the 2009 campaign, whereas the premier class only had Citroen and Ford in their roster. Subaru is believed to return to the WRC two years from now, once the new S2000 rules will have settled.