Nutahara well prepared for Zlín return

"He’s getting more and more familiar with left-hand drive"

By Franck Drui

26 August 2011 - 19:11
Nutahara well prepared for Zlín return

Yokohama’s motorsport technical consultant Ian Beveridge believes Fumio Nutahara is well prepared ahead of his second appearance in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge this season as he continues to adapt to left-hand drive.

Nutahara, who will contest the asphalt round in a Subaru Impreza R4 STI run on Yokohama tyres, made his Barum Czech Rally Zlín debut in 2010, the first time he had driven a left-hand drive car in competition.

“He’s missing the odd gear change but he’s getting more and more familiar with left-hand drive and has even got himself a left-hand drive car to practice in back home in Japan,” said Beveridge. “He did a shakedown test in Austria before coming here and we used shakedown this morning to confirm the results.”

Beveridge explained that Yokohama has developed a more “compliant” tyre for the Czech event, which provides improved stability and is calmer under braking, following changes to the tyre construction.

“We’ll probably go with a softer compound option because of the low grip nature of the road. We have no concerns how it will last in the heat.”

Nutahara’s Subaru is the only R4-specifciation Impreza competing in Zlín. Compared to the traditional Group N version – eight of which will be in action this weekend – it benefits from improved suspension dynamics, reduced weight and improved cooling.

Subaru is represented in the Czech Republic by Prague-based Emil Frey CR, which ensures the supply of STI competition parts into the country.

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