WRC launches Rally Class

Next season’s WRC will feature a new cost-capped category, championship organisers confirmed today (Friday).

Rally Class, a joint initiative between Belgian preparation experts Symtech Racing and WRC promoter North One Sport, will see identical Subaru Impreza STR12 campaigned in six World Championship rounds next year.

260,000 Euros buys private competitors outings in Portugal, Greece, Germany, France, Italy and Spain with the overall champion stepping up to a fully-paid drive in Symtech’s Impreza R4 on five rallies in 2013.

Symtech’s Dirk van der Sluys, who’s team ran Hayden Paddon to the P-WRC title in 2011, reckoned the capped budget and range of prizes made Rally Class an appealing prospect to new entrants.

“Rally Class has a fixed price for the whole season, equivalent to about half of the budget normally required to drive in the PWRC,” he said.

“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.”

North One’s Marc de Jong added: “We welcome this initiative, promoted by the winning PWRC team. 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.”

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Tom Hornsby