Subaru enters two R4 Imprezas in Azores

Two R4-specification Subaru Imprezas will contest Sata Rallye Acores this week as the Japanese manufacturer increases its commitment to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge in conjunction with tyre partner Yokohama.

Experienced drivers Toshi Arai and Fumio Nutahara will pilot the two Imprezas run by Manfred Stohl’s Austria-based team, Stohl Racing.

The veteran Japanese duo are expected to head the challenge for IRC Production Cup honours in what will be the first competitive appearance on an international gravel event for the R4 Imprezas. The
R4 regulations were introduced for this season to bridge the performance gap between traditional Group N cars and the pacesetting Super 2000 machines.

Japanese tyre firm Yokohama is supporting Subaru’s IRC campaign and has brought three compound options to the Azores based on its A053 pattern.

But while the Yokohama-supported Imprezas are lighter and more technically advanced than their standard Group N counterparts, few drivers get close to Azores resident and multiple regional champion Ricardo Moura when it comes to experience of the demanding gravel stages.

The Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer pilot finished a fine fifth overall last season and is more than capable of achieving a similar result this year. Other contenders include Group N Impreza driver Vitor Lopes
and Vitor Pascoal, who switches from the Peugeot 207 he took to sixth overall in 2010 to a Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X.

Subaru will host a presentation of its Impreza R4 at 14:00hrs local time on Thursday 14 July in the Sata Rallye Acores service park in Ponta Delgada prior to the start of the event.