Subiesport Magazine

Gronholm’s New Groove

Posted on 26. Mar, 2009 by ryan in Motorsports

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With Subaru’s World Rally Team out of the picture, it’s time to find some new heros to cheer in 2009. Lucky for Subaru fans, two time World Champion Marcus Gronholm has jumped into the fray, and this time he’s not driving a Ford or Peugeot as he has done in the past. No, now he’s moving up to a Prodrive-prepared Subaru WRC2008.

The car is due to make its rally debut at Rally of Portugal. Before then, Gronholm will pursue a number of tests “behind the scenes” — most notably at Wales Rally GB and Rally Spain. This means the two-time World Rally Champion will have three days to familiarize himself with the new car before starting his first World Rally Championship event in nearly 16 months. (editor’s note: I was at that last event he competed in, Wales Rally GB 2007. The sound of the crowd cheering him across the start line was deafening!)

The Prodrive Impreza WRC2008 is fundamentally the same car used by the Subaru World Rally Team last season.  “We have only been able to make minor changes to the car because of homologation restrictions, with the most significant difference being the Ohlins dampers,” said Prodrive technical director, David Lapworth.  “In a perfect world, Marcus would have had far more time behind the wheel, however, with his years of experience, I am absolutely confident he will very quickly find a rhythm in the Impreza.”

Gronholm’s participation in the Rally of Portugal has been made possible by the support of the Portuguese Tourist Board.  The car has been entered under the Prodrive team name and it will be run out of the same service area as the Prodrive-supported Adapta World Rally Team.

Given his past record, we’re guessing that Gronholm is in it to win it and we’ll be cheering him on the whole way.

(4 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Tags: gronholm, prodrive, wrc, wrc2008