I will be coming back soon .

there I fixed it.

the rear bumper on the mits doesn't look that crazy to me.

good job on the pics Evan! :shock:

Dizam! The new crop of rally cars are very sick! WRC '04 is going to be awesome! Let's just hope the ol' WRX is up to the challenge...

I'm wondering if we should expect a drastic re-design of the WRX in '07 to compete with these new smaller cars. Or maybe it's time Subaru stops rallying the Impreza and choose a smaller (new) platform? :( Remember, the Legacy used to be their rally car till they specifically built the Impreza for rally.

BTW: Thanks for all the pics Evan!

Yeah I hope the old WRX can hang with these bad boys I feel that it can. No prob on the pix I am doing alot of surfing right now the snow suck this week so I am working on my site looking for new cars and stuff. :D

The Impreza WRC is supposed to get a few tweaks around the 3rd or 4th round, if I recall correctly. There are new rules this year allowing plastic bumpers (rather then steel) and Subaru is planning some engine & chasis modifications. It is supposed to be the most significant advance of the car since the bug-eyes.

They are also planning on using an active damping suspension (active control of the shock absorbers) on the tarmac rallies this year. Subaru attempted to use this in Italy this year, but didn't create the expected results. Petter wanted more testing before he used it again (and I assume he got some, or will very soon). Unfortunately, the active suspension has a good chance of being canned by Subaru due to the FIA proposing to ban on active suspension in 2005. Why waste money on stuff that will get banned the next year? (Peugeot has active anti-sway bars that would get banned by this rule too).

There is also a minimum body shell rule this year that should help out Subaru. Previously, there was only a minimum weight rule, so teams like Peugeot (with a very light body shell) could add weight balast anywhere they wanted to the chasis to help their front-rear weight distribuition (as well as lower the COG). The 206 has a body shell lighter then the new minimum body shell rule, and this is believed to be a significant factor in speeding up the introduction of the 307. Oh, and a wierd sidenote, the 307 might be using a 4-speed gearbox on tarmac rallies.

Subaru might not have an distinct advantage, but they certianly don't have a disadvantage.

http://com.fr.sport.citroen.com/NR/r...0/03169005.jpg
http://com.fr.sport.citroen.com/NR/r...0/03169023.jpg
http://com.fr.sport.citroen.com/NR/r...0/03169017.jpg
http://com.fr.sport.citroen.com/NR/r...0/03169106.jpg

Maybe we will get to see the ford fiesta rally car but I think there using the fucus.
http://www.pictures-of-cars.com/image/img_000019.jpg
http://www.pictures-of-cars.com/image/img_000020.jpg

http://www.pictures-of-cars.com/image/img_000023.jpg
[img:3ee948ea3a=600]http://www.rallyzone.com/photos/news/ARG0212.jpg[/img:3ee948ea3a]

The best for last
[img:cb78abe42e=800]http://swrt.com/cpimages/473579.jpg[/img:cb78abe42e]

Damn its good to see that #1 on a Subaru. I can't wait to see the race this weekend.

That Ford Rallye Concept (most likely a Fiesta when it goes into production/competition) is for JWRC not the WRC.

Thats what I saw someware to I wish they would use that in the WRC it looks way better then the Fucus.

That cage looks like it could use a little help.

I heard that Hyundia has decided not to return until 2006, and it looks like Skoda has withdrawn from the 2004 WRC...

edit: Looks like Skoda has decided to run only one car in limited events, they will not appear on the WRC until round 6 in Greece. Sucks to see rides dropping off, especially now with the shortage of factory seats.

Yeah, Skoda is only doing the european rounds this year. And Dider Auriol was let go :(

Probably for the best, but its a shame to see Auriol leave the sport.