Mixed Fortunes for Subaru

The World Rally Championship is about toRichard Taylor. "Chris and Petter were able to
conclude its current season with only threeachieve a top-three stage time each, however
remaining events. Ford is currently leading in thewe clearly have more work to do to fully exploit
manufacturer's championship standings withthe potential of our 2007 car and get back to
Marcus Gronholm leading all drivers. Citroen isachieving regular podium results."
second on the standings and Sebastien Loeb isThe team will now be using the remainder of the
trailing Gronholm by a few points. Playing catch-upseason to work on their car to make it better in
to the two teams is the Subaru World Rallypreparation for the next season. And with the
Team.changes made to their current car, the
The said team is fielding three cars since theperformance of the three drivers can be
midway point of the season when Xevi Pons wasexpected to improve over the last three events
given a ride by Subaru. At the recently concludedof the season.
Rallye de France, the team was still unable to winFormer World Rally Champion Petter Solberg
over the top two teams. The third and final leg ofpointed out that the changes they have made on
the event, which is the most crucial, broughttheir cars have made it better. "I thought the car
mixed fortunes to the team.felt better today and easier to drive which is a
Petter Solberg had a good run and had thegood step forward for us," said Solberg. The
chance to finish better than fifth. Chris Atkinsondriver though lamented the lack of speed of their
meanwhile had a problem-free day although hecar on flat surfaces. "The speed is still not quite
was not able to improve his standings finishing inthere and we are struggling on the very flat
the sixth place. Xevi Pons has the worst daysurfaces. Unfortunately for us the stages today
among the Subaru drivers as his car's tires werewere mostly flat so weren't able to catch
punctured twice in the last leg of the event. TheJari-Matti Latvala, although it was a good battle to
Spaniard eventually finished eighth on his Subaruthe final stage."
motor mount -equipped Subaru Impreza.The veteran driver is now looking forward to
Although the three drivers failed to get to the topdriving in Japan, Subaru's home turf. "Overall this
three, they all earned points for the team. "Theweekend has been good for the team and I am
team are pleased to finish with all three cars infeeling more confident with the car which is
points-scoring positions here in Corsica," saidimportant going into Japan next," said Solberg.
Subaru World Rally Team's Managing Director