And the massive throngs of spectators were one of the reasons that we had to get out so early to the popular stages, which had the best viewing areas. True rally fans appreciate the nature of watching a rally event as much as they like seeing the cars. It's a good time to kick back outdoors before the safety car comes blaring through the course, with its wailing siren signaling the impending arrival of the first WRC cars. And once the WRC cars come rocketing through the dirt, everybody stands up and pays attention.
We've all seen the videos on TV and on the Internet of a WRC-class machine tearing through the woods, tires skittering with barely enough grip on ice or dirt. Those are nothing. Nada. In person, the WRC rally cars are absolutely monstrous, with a ghost trail of dust and dirt spewing into the air in their wake. Their wail, bouncing off of rocks, trees, and hills, resonate with a force that is matched only by the crackling blasts of the anti-lag system. There seems to be no surface that can slow them down, as long as the car is shiny side up.
Ironically, Subaru's Chris Atkinson rolled an STI during the last WRC event that SCC visited, the 2006 Rally Mexico. Again, in New Zealand, it was a rollover that was caused by a large rock.
Atkinson to Subaru World Rally Team (SWRT): "I've had an incident and stopped."
SWRT to Atkinson: "What's the problem?"
Atkinson to Subaru World Rally Team(SWRT): "There's some damage to the oil cooler and the pressure light was on."SWRT to Atkinson: "Ok, we'll tow it back to service."
Once we saw the WRC STI arrive back at the service park, we wondered just exactly what medication Atkinson was on. The Subaru had rolled over and suffered significant front-end damage. The "damage" to the oil cooler was in fact the crushing and destruction of the entire cooling system. After some talks with the FIA scrutineers, the SWRT crew got to work. They were given a 3-hour window with which to bring the rally car back to shape. Out of the team's metal shipping containers came pristine WRC spare parts, each of which would bring any Subie fan to their knees at the mere sight. Among the parts changed in the time frame were a new windshield, hood, fenders, bumpers, suspension, control arms, wheels, tires, brake ducts, oil cooler, carbon radiator ducting, and a very trick quick release radiator/intercooler setup that could be removed and re-installed as one piece. A little bit of matching blue racing tape on the rear panels and the car looked brand new. Rally mechanics live up to their reputation in every possible way. This is the same team that I saw use three guys to change a Subaru transmission and rear differential in half an hour using electric impact wrenches, jack stands, and hand tools. Try doing that in your driveway.
Although safety barriers nowadays prevent you from losing an outstretched hand to an angry rally car, a WRC event is not to be missed in person. I would know, I've never been happier to be pelted by a torrent of rocks kicked up by a powersliding boost-fed Focus. Pleased with their media success at the recent X-Games competitions, Subaru is one of the few manufacturers left supporting rally racing in the United States. That's a damn shame. But with recognizable American superstar drivers like Ken Block and Travis Pastrana slowly feeling the waters out in the WRC, we can only hope that rally racing will grow faster and farther. Maybe then our real question will finally be answered, Rally United States on the WRC calender?
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Subaru Rally Team USA
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Subaru Of America, Inc.
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