Subaru could use '07 parts early

Sources told this week's Autosport during last weekend's Acropolis Rally that Subaru was considering introducing the complete new car - labelled the S12B - before the end of the year, in the same way Ford ran its 2006 Focus in the final round of 2005.

Taylor has denied those rumours, saying the complete car would be homologated in January 2007.

Subaru suffered more misery in Greece last week. Petter Solberg was initially on the pace, but dropped time through Saturday's leg two and retired after hitting a rock in a road section, trying to avoid a car heading towards him on the wrong side of the road.

His teammate Chris Atkinson suffered rear differential and steering failures and finished outside of the top 10.

"The team's performance has been unacceptable," admitted Taylor. "We haven't produced anything like the results the team has done in previous years. We haven't given the drivers the car or the tyres to do the job and now we have to turn that around."

The team underwent its biggest personnel change in history three months ago, when long-time team principal and technical guru David Lapworth was replaced by Taylor, with chief designer Ed Wood also departing the Banbury outfit.

Taylor accepts that those changes have impacted on the season, but his main concerns rest with the lack of performance from the Impreza WRC2006.

Privately, some team members have admitted this year's car is a step backwards from its predecessor.

"Bringing out next year's car is going a little too far," said Taylor. "We have always had a long-term development plan to give us clear performance gains. We have started that process here in Greece and we will continue that process through the summer break.

"There are elements of next year's car that could appear before January, but it is almost certain that the new car won't be used this year."