Why is the WRX a good rally car?

The Subaru WRX is bred for rally racing due to its famous Symmetrical All-Wheel drive system and famed boxer engine.  The all-wheel-drive system on all Subaru cars has been tested and developed through rally racing over the past decade, so the cars are very reliable and very capable. Additionally, a vast amount of parts through SPT (Subaru Performance Tuning) and STI (Subaru Tecnica International) are available.

How much horsepower does a rally car have?

This really depends on what class the rally car runs in. For example, the rally cars of Subaru Rally Team USA run in the Open Class, where they are required to fit a 34 mm intake restrictor on the turbocharger. This limits horsepower to around 350 hp. Other rally cars in the PGT class of Rally America are fitted with 32 mm restrictors which limit power to between 220 to 275 hp.

What is a ride in a rally car like?

When the driver uncorks the rally car and your body is pressed into the seat with heavy g forces, you know you're in for a wild ride. Being on a roller coaster without a set metal track, it's up to these skilled professionals to guide the car through a never-ending set of twists and turns. Using time-honored rally skills like left-foot braking, Scandinavian flicks and hand brake maneuvers, the car does things you never thought possible. Big air, churning dirt and huge puddles await you deep in the woods.

How can my friends and I see a Rally America National Championship event?

First, check this website to see which event is next on the schedule. The event's website will most likely have spectator information available or will list local locations where you may pick up spectator information. However, the best way to see a rally is to volunteer to help with the event. Please visit http://www.rally-america.com/volunteer.php to learn more. Being a volunteer is the ultimate experience for a rally fan. You'll be a part of the rally and meet all of the drivers and crews. Best of all, the volunteers get as close to the action as the drivers do!

How do I become a rally driver?

The first step to becoming a rally driver is to educate yourself. You will first need to learn everything about the rules and regulations associated with the sport, as well as budget and logistical requirements. There are many rally events held across North America, and Subaru of America supports and recommends Rally America events. Please visit Rally America at www.rally-america.com for a complete schedule and other series information. Be sure to read their rule book before investing any money in building or purchasing a rally car.

A new Rally America rule requires that new drivers start off in Group 2, Production or Open Light class. Please refer to the Rally America rule book for details on how this works and what is required to enter your first event.

There are also a few rally schools a driver may attend. Subaru recommends the Team O'Neil Rally School (www.team-oneil.com), located in New Hampshire. There may be other schools available and it is recommended that a new driver contact Rally America first to learn which schools are available.

Volunteering and working at the various local events in your area will give you good opportunities to learn what these events entail and how they are run. Check the Events schedule on this site to find when and where a Rally America National Championship race will be in your area. Visit each venue's web site to get specific information on that event.

I'd like to send a donation in honor of the memory of the late SRT USA team of Roger Freeman and Mark Lovell. Who should I contact?

Please send donations for The Mark Lovell and Roger Freeman Children's Fund to any of the addresses below. Thank you for your continued support.

Steve Turvey/Richard Taylor
Autotrade Limited
Liner House
Test Road
Southhampton
SO14 3GE
UK

Subaru of America, Inc
SRT-USA - c/o James Han
Marketing Dept.
2235 Route 70 west
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
USA

David Campion
Prodrive Limited
Acorn Way
Banbury
Oxfordshire
OX16
UK

What is the Subaru Rally Support Program?

The Subaru Rally Support Program, which was created in 2005, continues to be the most lucrative contingency program in North American rallying, with over $20,000 available per event for Subaru drivers to earn. The program will again focus support on the popular Super Production (SP) class within the Rally America National Championship, where the top finishing eligible Subaru SP driver can now earn up to $7,000 at each round.

The SP class was created in 2009 by Rally America to offer a compromise between the top-tier Open class and the more restrictive Production GT class. This new category provides a cost-effective means for models such as the Subaru Impreza platform-based WRX and STI to not only compete head-to-head, but also to potentially challenge the top of the leader board at any Rally America National Championship event. The class has been hotly contested and moving into the new season Subaru hopes to attract even more new entrants to the sport and the SP class with continued high award payouts. The top Subaru SP class finisher can earn $7000 per event. Prize payouts in 2012 will be awarded to the top ten finishing Subaru SP class registrants.

In addition to this continued support to SP class participants at Rally America National Championship events, Subaru of America Inc. will also offer a $200 "startup fund" to any class of Subaru entered in a Rally America Regional rally that runs concurrent to a national event weekend.

Finish Position Among Eligible SP Class Drivers	Payout for "Plan A" eligible SP Class Drivers
1st Place:	$7,000
2nd Place:	$4,000
3rd Place:	$3,000
4th Place:	$2,500
5th Place:	$1,500
6th - 10th Place:	$500

The 2012 Subaru Rally Support Program is administered and managed by Vermont SportsCar. For complete rules and information on how to register please visit http://vtcar.com/rally/subaru-contingency-program/

For more information about Rally America's Super Production class, please refer to the Rally America rule book and rule bulletins found at http://rally-america.com/rules.php

*Certain eligibility rules apply. For complete rules, regulations and eligibility restrictions, please visit the official rules page of the Subaru Rally Support Program at http://vtcar.com/rally/subaru-contingency-program/