Ford RS4ti

[M-Sport fan]

There were a couple of small budget crews actually rallying them in U.S. events, and if in stock-ish, Group N type trim/prep levels (factory power levels, no dog boxes/sequentials, etc.), they were allowed to compete in the Limited AWD class no less.

Of course, Maine's Carl Merrill was the most well known, and successful of all of the Cossie RS/WRC pilots in this land in the SCCA Pro Rally days of yore.

None other than the actual, REAL Stig (Bloomqvist) drove that very car to victory in the 1999 Maine Forest Rally as a tribute to the late Mr. Merrill.

He was the very first to bring one into the states, in 1993, and in full Ford World Rally Team/ Boreham, WRC Group A spec (M-Sport was not even the prep facility/builder yet way back when these cars were first campaigned in the top class of the WRC, only taking over when the WRC 'kit cars' became the top class in 1997).

Speaking of Scoobybaru swag; The workers/volunteers at the 2018 New England Forest Rally all received a Subaru Rally Team USA drawstring bag as one of the goodies given for helping out the effort.

 

[SPhilli911]

There were a couple of small budget crews actually rallying them in U.S. events, and if in stock-ish, Group N type trim/prep levels (factory power levels, no dog boxes/sequentials, etc.), they were allowed to compete in the Limited AWD class no less.

Of course, Maine's Carl Merrill was the most well known, and successful of all of the Cossie RS/WRC pilots in this land in the SCCA Pro Rally days of yore.

None other than the actual, REAL Stig (Bloomqvist) drove that very car to victory in the 1999 Maine Forest Rally as a tribute to the late Mr. Merrill.

He was the very first to bring one into the states, in 1993, and in full Ford World Rally Team/ Boreham, WRC Group A spec (M-Sport was not even the prep facility/builder yet way back when these cars were first campaigned in the top class of the WRC, only taking over when the WRC 'kit cars' became the top class in 1997).

Speaking of Scoobybaru swag; The workers/volunteers at the 2018 New England Forest Rally all received a Subaru Rally Team USA drawstring bag as one of the goodies given for helping out the effort.

Appretiate the info, my knowledge on pre-Focus rally Fords is low especially American rally stuff. Would love to see a Cosworth RS rallying here and I am sure I would have if I made it out to some regional rallies for once.

That's cool to hear about the Subaru swag, even though I feel like Subarus rally glory days are pretty much over its cool to see they still supporting the US efforts in a way. My second favorite blue oval car brand. 😉

 

[M-Sport fan]

Yeah, they are a major 'title sponsor' of the ARA National events.

I've always said that Vermont Sportscar is like a mini Prodrive WEST, and Lance Smith (the principal owner/proprietor of that operation) 'stepped in it' when he landed the sole prep/support of the Scoobies running in the series from Subaru USA.
Ironically, he co-drove for said Carl Merrill mentioned above in that very Escort Cossie RS way back when Carl was still alive to drive.

Since Subaru worldwide is totally out of the WRC game, they have coin to throw at this US team in order to ensure that they win nationally, perpetually.

There were rumors of them getting back into the WRC fray in the recent past, have you heard any more on that topic??

 

[SPhilli911]

There were rumors of them getting back into the WRC fray in the recent past, have you heard any more on that topic??

I've not heard anything about Subaru getting back into WRC, no, but I don't follow them so much lately. I would find it hard to believe the company would invest in it but then again if you asked me a decade ago if Toyota would ever compete in WRC after they withdrew in the 90s I would have also found that hard to believe, but here we are. More contenders for Rally1 would be really nice, though.