Welcome to the North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club Thursday March 28, 2024
Home Forums Images WikiNASIOC Products Store Modifications Upgrade Garage
NASIOC
Go Back   NASIOC > NASIOC General > Motorsports

Welcome to NASIOC - The world's largest online community for Subaru enthusiasts!
Welcome to the NASIOC.com Subaru forum.

You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, free of charge, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, so please join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.







* As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads. 
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 01-04-2017, 08:35 PM   #1
Shik
NASIOC Supporter
 
Member#: 132
Join Date: Jul 1999
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: Cold in winter, hot in summer
Vehicle:
GDA- D, GDA-A, VAG-A
GDA-A - ShinjiTuned

Default Subaru/STi Redbull GRC 2017 Season

Subaru's biggest step forward to date in their bid to become GRC champions announced today:

From Subaru.com:


Cherry Hill, N.J. - Subaru Rally Team USA announced today Red Bull Global Rallycross (GRC) star Patrik Sandell and former Subaru World Rally Team driver Chris Atkinson will spearhead the factory team’s 2017 rallycross efforts. The two drivers will compete in the 2017 Red Bull GRC at the wheel of 2017 Subaru WRX STI GRC Supercar prepared by Subaru technical partner Vermont SportsCar.

“Subaru is very excited to have Patrik and Chris join our factory program,” stated Subaru Motorsports Marketing Manager Rob Weir. “We’re confident they have the proper mix of skill and experience to bring us success in Red Bull GRC.”

Swede Patrik Sandell is one of the Red Bull GRC’s brightest stars and consistently one of the top drivers in the series. Since his GRC debut in 2013, Sandell has claimed 11 podiums and 3 race victories. Before joining Red Bull GRC Sandell was a standout in stage rally where he won the Swedish Junior Rally Championship in 2004, the Swedish N3 Rally Championship in 2005, then the Junior World Rally Championship in 2006. In 2010, he also finished second overall in the S-WRC.

“To finally be a part of the Subaru family is a childhood dream coming true,” said Sandell. “I was watching Subaru cars rallying all over the world as a kid, and I am now very proud to be in those same shoes. Subaru have been able to create a unique passion around its’ brand and cars that I really like, as I am so passionate about both rally and rallycross myself. I am really looking forward to meeting all the Subaru fans out there that share my passion for the sport. It feels like this is where I belong.”

Joining Sandell will be Australian Chris Atkinson who in late 2016 joined Subaru for four Red Bull GRC rounds. A former Subaru World Rally Team driver, with over 70 WRC starts in his career including 41 WRC stage wins and six podiums, Atkinson had never raced in rallycross before 2016 but seemed right at home in the much more powerful Subaru WRX STI GRC Supercar. In just his third GRC weekend Atkinson earned the pole position at the 2016 GRC Los Angeles, a first for Subaru in the sport.

“I enjoyed my first taste of rallycross last year with the team, and it’s clear to see the potential both the team and the car have,” explains Atkinson. “I’m excited to come on board full-time with the squad, and I can’t wait to get started. The guys are working so hard in Vermont in the off-season now to really give Patrik and I something very special to drive in 2017.”

Sandell and Atkinson complete the Subaru Rally Team USA factory driver roster with teammates David Higgins and Travis Pastrana. Sandell and Atkinson will focus on GRC while Higgins and Pastrana will focus on stage rally in the newly formed American Rally Association (ARA). The Subaru program will also make efforts to explore opportunities to enter Higgins or Pastrana in select GRC rounds in 2017.


Very much to be excited about for a Subaru fan!
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

Last edited by Shik; 01-08-2017 at 07:29 AM.
Shik is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
Old 01-05-2017, 01:17 PM   #2
EVT_Dan
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 143534
Join Date: Mar 2007
Default

*Thumbs up!*
EVT_Dan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2017, 03:20 AM   #3
chimchimm5
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 88501
Join Date: Jun 2005
Chapter/Region: BAIC
Location: NorCal
Vehicle:
2011 WRX Hatch
Dark Grey

Default

Yeay looking forward to this season. Glad to see Catko behind the wheel of a Subaru again too.
chimchimm5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2017, 08:48 AM   #4
Homemade WRX
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 33782
Join Date: Mar 2003
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: Milton Keynes, UK
Vehicle:
96 3MI Racing
search FIRST, then PM!!!

Default

I'll be tuning is as always. It'll be interesting to see how the revised chassis and new drivers due. I'm still leaning towards a torque need but I'm also an engine guy.
Homemade WRX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-07-2017, 12:56 PM   #5
blubug_768
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 324962
Join Date: Jul 2012
Chapter/Region: BAIC
Location: Morgan Hill CA.
Vehicle:
02 WRX

Default

Wheelbase is probably a bigger disadvantage for subaru, although the focus did pretty good in the world rx.
IDK if vw pulling out of other motorsports will mean a bigger budget for them in grc or if they will slack off a bit.
GRC to me always seem sooo boring I can never manage to sit through a full race, jokers need to be longer, not shorter, or wore the same length. Hopefully this season will be better, and hopefully subaru will get on the podium, but I'm not going to get my hopes up.
blubug_768 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-07-2017, 01:54 PM   #6
Homemade WRX
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 33782
Join Date: Mar 2003
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: Milton Keynes, UK
Vehicle:
96 3MI Racing
search FIRST, then PM!!!

Default

Oh, chassis side is a given but the rule book has the limits on that hemmed up.
Homemade WRX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-08-2017, 07:20 AM   #7
Shik
NASIOC Supporter
 
Member#: 132
Join Date: Jul 1999
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: Cold in winter, hot in summer
Vehicle:
GDA- D, GDA-A, VAG-A
GDA-A - ShinjiTuned

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by blubug_768 View Post
Wheelbase is probably a bigger disadvantage for subaru, although the focus did pretty good in the world rx.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Homemade WRX View Post
Oh, chassis side is a given but the rule book has the limits on that hemmed up.
Homemade WRX is on the money. Comparatively, the Honda Civics' factory wheelbase is a full 2" longer than the WRX, but being allowed to shorten up the wheelbase in GRC gets all the cars a little closer to common ground. The Subie is still bigger than the Fords and VWs, but maybe not as big of a disadvantage as one might perceive.


The new Launch Control introducing the GRC line-up(starts around the 10 min mark).
Shik is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-08-2017, 12:34 PM   #8
EVT_Dan
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 143534
Join Date: Mar 2007
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shik View Post
but being allowed to shorten up the wheelbase in GRC gets all the cars a little closer to common ground. The Subie is still bigger than the Fords and VWs, but maybe not as big of a disadvantage as one might perceive
EVT_Dan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-08-2017, 08:37 PM   #9
Shik
NASIOC Supporter
 
Member#: 132
Join Date: Jul 1999
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: Cold in winter, hot in summer
Vehicle:
GDA- D, GDA-A, VAG-A
GDA-A - ShinjiTuned

Default

So, not exactly close to "common ground" but a little closer At least they give a some extra help to the larger cars(Hyundai, Subaru, Honda).
Shik is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-25-2017, 09:57 PM   #10
Shik
NASIOC Supporter
 
Member#: 132
Join Date: Jul 1999
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: Cold in winter, hot in summer
Vehicle:
GDA- D, GDA-A, VAG-A
GDA-A - ShinjiTuned

Default

Some footage of Atko's GRC car in Japan with Toshi at the wheel:

Shik is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-07-2017, 10:05 AM   #11
Shik
NASIOC Supporter
 
Member#: 132
Join Date: Jul 1999
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: Cold in winter, hot in summer
Vehicle:
GDA- D, GDA-A, VAG-A
GDA-A - ShinjiTuned

Default

2017 GRC schedule:

Shik is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2017, 10:10 PM   #12
Shik
NASIOC Supporter
 
Member#: 132
Join Date: Jul 1999
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: Cold in winter, hot in summer
Vehicle:
GDA- D, GDA-A, VAG-A
GDA-A - ShinjiTuned

Default

TV Schedule is up:

Shik is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2017, 10:50 AM   #13
Shik
NASIOC Supporter
 
Member#: 132
Join Date: Jul 1999
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: Cold in winter, hot in summer
Vehicle:
GDA- D, GDA-A, VAG-A
GDA-A - ShinjiTuned

Default

GRC this weekend!

FWIW, I think, from a fan's perspective, this off season has been the best yet with the team keeping the fans engaged the last few months on social media and RedBull GRC has given Subaru more love the last few months than ever before.

Looking forward to seeing the progression of the Subaru GRC team continue!

Shik is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-25-2017, 02:27 PM   #14
EVT_Dan
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 143534
Join Date: Mar 2007
Default

Hey Shik

I'm curious where you found this pic
EVT_Dan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-25-2017, 06:30 PM   #15
shoots808
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 370541
Join Date: Oct 2013
Chapter/Region: TXIC
Location: Texas
Vehicle:
2008 Subaru WRX
WRB

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shik View Post
TV Schedule is up:

Very vague about what timezones those are supposed to be in.
shoots808 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2017, 12:02 AM   #16
Wannabe WRX
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 130623
Join Date: Oct 2006
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Vehicle:
1999 STi-R #95/1000
WRB (in Progress)

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by shoots808 View Post
Very vague about what timezones those are supposed to be in.
All are Eastern Time.
Wannabe WRX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2017, 12:34 PM   #17
shoots808
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 370541
Join Date: Oct 2013
Chapter/Region: TXIC
Location: Texas
Vehicle:
2008 Subaru WRX
WRB

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Wannabe WRX View Post
All are Eastern Time.
awesome, thanks!
shoots808 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2017, 01:11 PM   #18
Shik
NASIOC Supporter
 
Member#: 132
Join Date: Jul 1999
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: Cold in winter, hot in summer
Vehicle:
GDA- D, GDA-A, VAG-A
GDA-A - ShinjiTuned

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by EVT_Dan View Post
Hey Shik

I'm curious where you found this pic
I think it was from one of Chris Atkinson's pages a while back.
Shik is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-27-2017, 03:50 PM   #19
carsandtea
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 466692
Join Date: Apr 2017
Default

So has there been any official word on Bucky? Is he fired? moving to rally?
carsandtea is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2017, 12:23 PM   #20
STI_SLC
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 111450
Join Date: Apr 2006
Chapter/Region: RMIC
Location: SL,UT.
Vehicle:
06 WRB_STi

Default

how anyone watches this series is beyond me..
let me know when subaru steps their game up by getting
dialed in and moving to real rallycross.. fia world rallycross. aka
the best and most entertaining circuit based motorsport series...

not even sure how this series still exists to be honest. i saw the money
they were searching for in the off season in order to simply continue another year.
i'm amazed they apparently got it.
STI_SLC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2017, 11:49 PM   #21
blubug_768
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 324962
Join Date: Jul 2012
Chapter/Region: BAIC
Location: Morgan Hill CA.
Vehicle:
02 WRX

Default

how are you watching world rx (wrx?)? Its not televised this year, fords exclusive broadcasting rights make it horrible, and searching for 4min clips of the event on youtube has already gotten old for me.

I agree grc is lame, the .5 sec FASTER joker kills any chance of racing or strategy, whoever is out front takes it the first chance they get and then the race is over.
blubug_768 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2017, 02:54 PM   #22
CtStig
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 421108
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Hamden, CT
Default

Even with Atkinson's heat win I'm afraid there's still a gap between the VW's and everyone else. Things didn't go smoothly at all so hopefully the subsequent rounds prove to be better.
Got to say I'm psyched to have the series coming to Thompson in June since I live in CT. It's a "home race" for SRT USA and the spectator turnout will likely be really good.
CtStig is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2017, 11:14 AM   #23
EVT_Dan
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 143534
Join Date: Mar 2007
Default

The 2 VWs are likely the fastest / best Rallycross cars in the world right now.
Those 2 cars are also brand new builds from Germany, and they are receiving full factory support from VW Motorsport this year.

Memphis will prove to have been the toughest track for us this year, it's too bad it was the season opener. With tighter tracks coming up, the improvements we've made will help going forward
EVT_Dan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2017, 05:58 PM   #24
shoots808
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 370541
Join Date: Oct 2013
Chapter/Region: TXIC
Location: Texas
Vehicle:
2008 Subaru WRX
WRB

Default

Still Atko had a impressive practice heat though
shoots808 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-11-2017, 01:06 PM   #25
Shik
NASIOC Supporter
 
Member#: 132
Join Date: Jul 1999
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: Cold in winter, hot in summer
Vehicle:
GDA- D, GDA-A, VAG-A
GDA-A - ShinjiTuned

Default

Here's a great short article Chris Atkinson wrote a few days ago. Great explanation from a drivers point of view why they just didn't go out and finish first and second the entire weekend.

http://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/20...ing-potential/
Shik is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:39 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Powered by Searchlight © 2024 Axivo Inc.
Copyright ©1999 - 2019, North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club, Inc.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission
Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.