In 2008, rallies in Norway, Portugal and Ireland have been replaced by a return to Turkey and the all new Rally Jordan
As 2008 is upon us, we at the Subaru World Rally Team wish all our supporters a very happy New Year, at the beginning of what will be a very exciting season.
Fifteen rounds, a switch to Pirelli Championship control tyres, the launch part-way into the season of the latest Subaru Impreza WRC car, and an increase to four manufacturer teams are sure to make 2008 a year of intense competition and adrenaline-fuelled action from start to finish.
The calendar starts with the traditional season-opener in Monte Carlo, which is run as a full four-day event starting on Thursday 24 January. Rally Jordan, the fifth event of the year, is a brand new addition to the WRC and the first time the series has ventured into the Middle East. Run at the end of April, temperatures on the banks of the Dead Sea will be amongst the highest of the year as they soar towards 40 degrees Celsius.
Photo: SWRT
Rally Mexico will be Chris Atkinson’s 50th WRC event with the Subaru World Rally Team, whilst Rally Argentina will represent 125 rallies together for the duo of Petter Solberg and Phil Mills.
Also of note is the news that the famously spectacular Ouninpohja stage on Rally Finland will not be run in 2008. The stage, along which Petter Solberg and Phil Mills set the fastest ever stage time in 2004, was deemed too fast last year and so has been left out of the route.
A sight likely to be common this year is that of drivers changing wheels at the side of the road. With the shift to Pirelli tyres comes the banning of anti-deflation mousse, meaning that punctures will be rife, especially on rocky rallies such as Acropolis which this year celebrates its 55th WRC anniversary. Tyre tread pattern and compound are limited, meaning that they will play less of a deciding factor between teams, promising closer competition and more spectacular rallying for the fans.
Throughout the year there will be in-depth rally previews available the week before each event, and daily reports during each rally weekend. Stay tuned for the latest news, features and live rally results all year.
2008 calendar
January 24 - 27 76e Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo
February 8 - 10 Uddeholm Swedish Rally
February 28 – March 2 Rally Mexico
March 27 - 30 Rally Argentina
April 24 - 27 Jordan Rally WRC
May 16 - 18 Rallye d’Italia-Sardegna
May 29 – June 1 BP Ultimate Acropolis Rally
June 13 - 15 Rally of Turkey
July 31 – August 3 Neste Oil Rally Finland
August 15 - 17 ADAC Rallye Deutschland
August 28 - 31 Rally of New Zealand
October 2 - 5 Rallye de Espańa
October 10 - 12 Rallye de France Tour de Corse
October 24 - 26 Rally Japan
November 28 - 30 Wales Rally GB
