JRM’s brand-new Gp N Subaru WRX STI made an impressive debut in the FIA European Rally Championship’s Production Car Cup category this weekend, running as high as second place overall before a suspected electrical issue forced the car into retirement on leg two.
The international-spec machine, built as part of an official collaboration between British motorsport preparation specialist JRM and Subaru Tecnica International (STI) – the motorsport division of Subaru, was given its first competitive outing at Barum Czech Rally Zlin in the Czech Republic. The car was driven by three-time British Rally Champion Mark Higgins and co-driver Carl Williamson.
Although the pairing did minimal testing before heading to Zlin’s tricky asphalt stages, the WRX STI impressed as it set a hat-trick of fastest stage times in the Gp N class and fought its way up to second place overall in the Production Car Cup at the end of day one.
Sadly for JRM, a suspected electrical issue forced Higgins and Williamson to stop at the end of the first stage on leg two. But the British team has been buoyed by the car’s first showing – in Europe’s most competitive rally championship.
Higgins said: “The brief was to get the car to the finish and not do anything silly, but the whole package was working incredibly well on the first day and that allowed us to push our way up the leaderboard to second place and 15th overall. I felt confident on the Hankook tyres and Ohlins dampers we were using and that meant the opening leg couldn’t have gone any better. Everything worked fantastically well.
“We’re all disappointed that we didn’t get to finish the job we started but I really enjoyed the car and I think this event has shown the performance gain that can be had from the newest Gp N car to be introduced to the class. Running second in the ERC – on the car’s first-ever event – is something we can all be proud of.”
JRM’s new Gp N challenger will return to ERC action at Rallye International du Valais in Switzerland (23-25 October) and JRM Executive Director, James Rumsey, is expecting the team to build on its promising showing in the Czech Republic.
“It’s been a very positive weekend for JRM and I want to thank all of our supporters and partners for making it happen. The sedan version of the WRX STI that we’ve built is the newest car to come to the Gp N category and I think we’ve shown it has immense speed and performance after this showing,” he said.
“We will investigate the cause of the suspected electrical issue that forced Mark and Carl into retirement when we get back to the JRM factory this week and we’ll be ready to continue our exciting Gp N programme in Switzerland.”
JRM’s new WRX STI can be used in all regions where Gp N international and national championships are widely recognised. This includes the FIA European Rally Championship and the WRC 2 series, as well as series’ in the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Russia and Australasia.
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