The 2022 Subaru WRX has received a redesign, and now Subaru has introduced a rally version of the popular car. The new WRX rally car will make its competition debut in the American Rally Association (ARA) championship’s Ojibwe Forests Rally on August 24-25. This rally car will replace the previous-generation WRX platform, and it is set to bring some exciting new features and performances to the racing world.
For its competition debut, current Subaru factory-team driver Brandon Semenuk will be behind the wheel of the number 180 car, with co-driver Keaton Williams joining him. However, there is even more excitement on the horizon, as Travis Pastrana will be making his return to the ARA series in 2024, after taking a one-year hiatus. He will be joining the team and further adding to the excitement surrounding the new WRX rally car.
The WRX rally car is built by Vermont SportsCar, the same team that constructed previous generations of WRX rally cars for ARA competition. Vermont SportsCar has also worked on other notable projects, such as Pastrana’s Subaru GL Family Huckster and WRX STI Airslayer gymkhana cars. The company spent a significant amount of time designing and testing the rally car, starting from the launch of the current-generation WRX in the U.S., which took 18 months to complete.
The build of the rally car starts with a stock WRX body shell, which is fully seam welded and fitted with an FIA/USAC-compliant roll cage constructed from T45 steel. The stock gas tank is replaced with a 21.6-gallon kevlar fuel cell, and the driver and co-driver are seated in Sparco racing seats, ensuring adherence to FIA safety regulations.
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The WRX rally car is designed to comply with ARA Open 4WD rules, which allow for a large rear wing and widened fenders. These parts are made of carbon fiber, and the entire car is adorned with Subaru’s traditional rally livery of WR Blue Pearl, with the automaker’s star logo rendered in yellow.
While the production version of the WRX road car is powered by a turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-4 engine, the class rules for the rally car require the use of a 2.0-liter version with an air restrictor and boost limiter. Despite these limitations, the race engine produces an impressive 320 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque, surpassing the road car’s output by 49 horsepower and 122 lb-ft of torque. The power is sent to all four wheels through a Sadev 6-speed close-ratio transmission. The rally car also features modified suspension, with R53 Suspension springs and dampers, crossmembers, links, and hubs all designed by Vermont SportsCar. These components work in harmony to manage the movement of the 15-inch Yokohama Advanced A053 rally tires.
While rallying may not be as popular in the U.S. as in other countries, Subaru believes that the latest ARA rules will attract more competition, leading to an increase in fan interest. Additionally, Subaru sees this as an opportunity to introduce the famous blue-and-yellow WRX rally cars to a new generation of fans.
Overall, the new Subaru WRX rally car is set to bring excitement and adrenaline to the racing world. With its improved features and performance, it is likely to capture the attention of rally enthusiasts and fans alike. As Subaru continues to push the boundaries of rally racing, the WRX rally car showcases the brand’s commitment to innovation and performance on and off the track.
