Symtech Racing launches Rally Class 2012 within the WRC

For a three year period starting from 2012, Belgian team Symtech Racing, with the cooperation of World Rally Championship promoter North One Sport and Subaru / STI, will support and manage a new formula within the World Rally Championship: the Rally Class.

This competition will cover six rounds, getting underway in Portugal before moving onto Greece, Germany, France, Italy and Spain. All crews taking part in the Rally Class category will drive identical Subaru Impreza STR12 cars. The winner will be rewarded with a fully-paid five-rally programme for the following season in which he will compete at the wheel of a Symtech Subaru Impreza R4.

Participants for the 2012 season will have to enrol by December 15, 2011. The first event, the Rally of Portugal, is scheduled for the end March 2012. The Rally Class scheme provides a level playing field for the participants. All cars will be prepared and managed by the Symtech Racing team, based in Grobbendonk, Belgium; and the all-inclusive price is 260,000 Euro.

Dirk Van der Sluys of Symtech Racing said: "The Production World Rally Championship (PWRC) that we won this year with Hayden Paddon has already reached high levels of budgets, especially at the very top end. After speaking with many drivers last year, we found that for many of them it was not at all easy to find the budget to cover the whole season. That’s why we came up with the idea of promoting an alternative solution. Rally Class has a fixed price for the whole season, equivalent to about half of the budget normally required to drive in the PWRC. In addition there will be some interesting prizes for the top three finishers: a five-rally programme with a Subaru Impreza R4 for the winner; two rallies with a Group N Subaru Impreza for the runner-up and a complete test session with an Impreza R4 for whoever is third. The car we will provide for the Rally Class will be a slightly cheaper version of the new Group N Subaru Impreza STR12 but still comparable to the full-spec version. It will be equipped with a dogbox gearbox, big brakes, Reiger adjustable suspension and DMACK tyres, with race fuel. I’m sure it will be a good way to discover the World Rally Championship with four wheel drive and a turbo."

Marc de Jong (North One Sport): "We welcome this initiative, promoted by the winning PWRC team. The Rally Class is an excellent way to take part in the WRC with an affordable programme and the legendary Subaru Impreza. I sincerely hope that many drivers will join the series in the 2012 PWRC which is the ideal springboard for a future career in the WRC."

Calendar, Rally Class 2012:
Rally Portugal (P) 29 March to 1 April (gravel)
Acropolis Rally (GR) 25-27 May (gravel)
Rallye Deutschland (D) 24-26 August (asphalt)
Rallye de France-Alsace (F) 4-7 October (asphalt)
Rally d’Italia (I) 18-21 October
Rally de Espana (E) 1-4 November (mixed)

Prizes 2012:
1st prize Rally Class 2012: 5 WRC rallies in a Subaru Impreza R4, all expenses paid
2nd prize Rally Class 2012: 2 WRC rallies with in a Group N Subaru Impreza, all expenses paid
3rd prize Rally Class 2012: Test day in a Subaru Impreza R4
4t, 5th, 6th prizes: to be confirmed