Season 2006

16 drivers have entered for the Production car World Championship series. All the last years´ big names like Toshi Arai and Marcos Ligato are in also this year. Despite the tough competition, Aki and SYMS racing Team believe in their chances. Aki has set winning the PWRC championship as his personal goal.
“I believe I have good chances for the championship this year as the team and part of the roads are familiar. I’ve got much more experience of the Mediterranean rough circumstances and I also know the Far Eastern roads better now,” says Aki, who drives his second season in the series.

AKI´S CALENDAR

    Rally Argentina 28-30.4
    Acropolis Rally of Greece 2-4.6
    Rally Japan 1-3.9
    Cyprus Rally 22-24.9
    Telstra Rally Australia 27-29.10
    Propecia Rally New Zealand 17-19.11

Argentina 28-30.4
Rally Argentina is a rough test for the fortitude of the equipment. The rally is driven high, so the engines don’t get much oxygen and the bumpy roads strain the cars a lot. Argentina’s unpredictable weather keeps the whole team surely awake all the weekend. Aki believes he can get a good start for his season in Argentina.
“It’s a fast rally, which suit well for me. Scandinavian drivers have traditionally done well in Argentina,” he says.

Greece 2-4.6
Greece is even harder test for the equipment than Argentina. Rough, cumbrous rock-strewn roads, heat and dust are a rough test both for the equipment and the drivers. Especially the underside of the car and tyres take huge pounding from the rocks.

Japan 1-3.9
Rally Japan can rarely be driven without rains. Outside the weather, the circumstances of the Rally Japan aren’t especially challenging or rough for the equipment, though the mud based and in some places surprisingly slippery roads can be difficult for inexperienced drivers. Fast rally is created for fast drivers like Aki.

Last year Aki placed third in Japan behind the locals Toshi Arai and Fumio Nutahara.

Cyprus Rally 22-24.9
Cyprus Rally is the toughest of the Mediterranean rallies: heat and rocky roads are merciless both for the equipment and the drivers.

Telstra Rally Australia 27-29.10
The speciality of the Telstra Rally Australia is the round little stones of Perth’s roads. They make the driving challenging as only small slip out of the driving lane probably leads to driving off the road. Aki doesn’t consider the local roads as a problem, though the last year’s rally ended in driving off the road after last day’s high risk tactics. This year Australia isn’t the season ending rally, so Aki believes he can stay on the road better.
“You have to stay accurately on the driving lane in these roads, which suits well for my driving style,” he says.

Propecia Rally New Zealand 17-19.11
The variable roads of New Zealand are to the most of the drivers liking. The unpredictable roads put drivers´ skills to a real test since even the smallest mistakes won’t go unpunished. Rapidly changing weather brings its own excitement to the rally.

Last year Aki was forced to retire because of broken engine, so it’s time for rematch this year.

 

Subaru Impreza Wrx STI

Technical data

Engine: Flat 4-cylinder boxer
Capacity:1994cc
Bore: 92.0mm
Stroke: 75.0mm
Power: 270bhp @ 4500rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3250rpm

Turbo charger: IHI - Twin scroll roller bearing for improved response with regulation 32mm restrictor

ECU:
Engine: Motec
Centre diff: Syms

Transmission:
Gear box: Prodrive 5-speed manual dog engagement
Front diff: Plated limited slip
Centre diff: Electro mechanical, locking differential
Rear diff: Plated limited slip

Suspension:
Front: 54mm Prodrive-Ohlins Macpherson strut, 3-way adjustable with hydraulic bump stops
Rear: 50mm Prodrive-Ohlins Macpherson strut, 3-way adjustable with hydraulic bump stops - longitudinal and transverse link

Brakes:
Tarmac:
Brembo calipers
Front: Four piston
Rear:Two piston
Discs
Front: 326mm
Rear: 316mm
• Gravel:
Subaru calipers
Front: Four piston
Rear: Two piston
Discs
Front: 294mm
Rear: 290mm

Wheels:
Tarmac: 8" x 17"
Gravel: 7" x 15"
Snow: 5.5" x 16"

Minimum car weight: 1271 kgs

Car dimensions:
Front track: 1510 mm
Rear track: 1515 mm
Length: 4415 mm
Wheelbase: 2540 mm

Täällä vielä suomeksi
Moottorintyyppi: Flat 4-cylinder boxer
Tilavuus:1994cc
Mäntä: 92.0mm
Isku: 75.0mm
Voima: 270bhp @ 4500rpm
Vääntö: 560Nm @ 3250rpm

ECU:
- Moottorinohjaus: Motec
- Keskilukon ohjaus: Syms

Voimansiirto:
- Vaihdelaatikko: Kaps 5-vaihteinen suorakytkentä vaihteisto
- Etulukko: Levy lukko
- Keskilukko: Eletroninen keskitasauspyörästö
- Takalukko: Levy lukko

Jousitus:
- TEIN JAPAN

Jarrut:
- ENDLESS Jarrupalat