As previously discussed,
Subaru was always going to struggle to have its voice heard against Toyota with the whole
GT 86/BRZ fraternal rivalry.
But sticking a turbo and big wings on it and going racing in the Japanese Super GT looks like a good policy.
Big wing: check. WR Blue: check.
BRZ Super GT racer at the Tokyo show
last year, Subaru has now been out testing. And boy does it look the business.
Subaru has already signalled its intent with the BRZ by showing an STI concept version at LA last year, the familiar combination of WR Blue paint and a big wing transposed from the Impreza working very-nicely-thank-you on the new coupe.
If this is a hint that Subaru is going to be claiming the more performance-oriented end of the Toyobaru spectrum then consider us already excited.
Super GT racers have always looked cool of course, but even by the standards of the series the BRZ is a fabulous-looking car. Promising a return of the "characteristic boxer engine sound", the BRZ tested this weekend at the Fuji Speedway.
New age for Subaru with Super GT
A full aero kit, inboard dampers and a turbocharged engine are all part of the extensive race prep programme and, though STI is playing its cards close to its chest after the test, Hideharu Tatsumi from the 'Motorsport Project Office' did say "we developed the BRZ GT300 aiming to take advantage of Subaru's characteristically low centre of gravity."
R&D Sport team boss Shinji Motojima was a little more effusive: "The development and engineering capabilities of Subaru/STI have created a wonderful car."
He's also aware the BRZ is going to have a fight on its hands and is realistic about where its talents lie. "This year's challenge for the 2.0-litre turbo BRZ is how competitive it can be against cars with larger displacements on a straight," he says. "However, we have the advantage in cornering and braking performance, so we need different strategies depending on the circuits."
Turbo flat-four promises the burble is back
Driver Kouta Sasaki sounds up to the challenge too. "I'm determined to boost Subaru's challenge with the BRZ as it is a new car. The car certainly looks cool, so our mission is to match speed with appearance. I believe that'll result in a flood of BRZs around town. In this sense, I feel a lot is riding on our shoulders."
Beyond the pre-season soundbites the hope is there that Subaru can exploit this motorsport pedigree and translate that to hotter versions of the roadgoing BRZ. Toyota may have staked its claim on the mainstream audience but, by rights, the hot Toyobaru ought to have a Subaru badge on the front.