by Rob Wilkins


Subaru's sporting director, Luis Moya has predicted that the story will definitely be different for the Banbury-based outfit in 2007, when they get their new car.

Although Subaru have struggled this year, they have already began a major test programme aimed at next season, like their rivals, BP Ford and Citroen and Moya is confident they are heading in the right direction with the 2007-specification Impreza WRC car. Indeed they began an eight-day with the new Impreza immediately following the Wales Rally GB, the final round in the championship.

"We always try to improve and make it [the car] as fast as we can. I am sure we will be competing for the world championship next year," he told Crash.net Radio. "At the first three rallies next season we will have the old car, but from Mexico we will have the new one. So, from then on, hopefully we can do much better. We will have to try to make no mistakes in Monte Carlo, because it is always good to start with some good points. It doesn't mean winning, but at least some good points. Then we will go to Sweden and Norway and we know we can do well there. But once we get the new car the story will be different."

Asked specifically about the new car, he said changes have been made in a number of areas: "There is a little bit everywhere," he confirmed. "There is a little bit on the suspension, the geometry and trying to address all the problems we had this year, trying to improve the weight distribution and all these things. But it is not a revolution, it is just an evolution of the Impreza - and it will not look too much different."

As for the team's drivers, Petter Solberg and Chris Atkinson both are upbeat and full of confidence that they can do better in 2007. Although as Moya himself admits that won't be difficult, given their lack of success in 2006 and the fact they took only four podiums.

"They know we are going to improve. It's quite easy to improve on what we did this season though! This season was not good at all. It was a disaster. But they are positive. They know we are working in the right direction and they just have to be patient," he concluded.