Subaru Motorsports USA recently had two exciting announcements to drop– the debut of a new car, and the return of a beloved driver. The all-new WRX rally car has just been introduced for competition in the Open 4WD class of the American Rally Association (ARA) Championship, and extreme sport legend Travis Pastrana will be joining the races for the 2024 ARA season, albeit in a different vehicle. The WRX rally car will be driven by Brandon Semenuk.
“So excited about the 2024 ARA rally championship,” Pastrana said about his return. “The new Subaru platform is amazing and the chance to battle again with two-time and defending champion Brandon Semenuk is going to be so much fun. When Brandon joined the team, I was the veteran. But the tables have turned and I’m looking forward to learning a lot and hopefully getting back to the top. I’ve only been away from the sport for a year but a lot has changed and I’m ready for the new challenge.”
The brand new rally car was built for competition by Subaru Motorsports’ technical partner Vermont SportsCar and was designed for maximum performance under current ARA Open 4WD specifications and regulations, from a base of WRX number one, the very first current-generation Subaru WRX sold in the US. It took 18 months to create, and features a custom-built turbocharged and intercooled 2.0-liter 4-cylinder boxer engine, a SADEV six-speed close-ratio transmission, R53 Suspension springs and dampers, VSC-designed crossmembers, links, and hubs, and Yokohama 15-inch ADVAN A053 gravel rally tires.
The car was developed not only for performance, but also for safety, featuring a fully seam-welded body shell and an FIA/USAC-spec roll cage made of T45 steel. Instead of a stock gas tank, the vehicle has an 82-liter Kevlar fuel cell. Sparco ADV Prime competition seats with HANS (Head and Neck Restraint System) devices, a self-extinguishing fabric liner and FIA approved energy absorbing padding can also be found on this vehicle.
"The release of the new car will bring an exciting future along with it,” remarked driver Brandon Semenuk. “This platform has been completely reengineered and the car looks and feels more dynamic, which will translate to an even better show for the fans! We will also have Travis coming back to the championship next season, which I'm looking forward to. Not only is it more fun having a teammate, but you learn so much more with a two-car team and this will be important for the ongoing development of the platform.”
With this new car earning its stripes and two legends behind the wheel for the season, it’s sure to be an interesting series of races. If you’re interested in keeping up on all of the latest Subaru news, including updates like this, make sure you continue reading our blog here!
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