Subaru may delay new car debut

A recent increase in the level and intensity of testing for the new car had, according to well-placed sources, brought renewed optimism for the launch of the car which - when announced last year - was first talked about being launched at the start of the season.

The Acropolis Rally was reportedly being targeted by the team more recently, however.

Petter Solberg and Chris Atkinson tested the new car - codenamed S14 - for the first time earlier this month and, reportedly, felt more work was needed before it was used in anger.

Given that the Subaru World Rally Team have never specified a date for the launch of the new car, there remained no confirmation of the debut.

A source within the team said: "The tests have been going well, really well. We have made a lot of progress with the car, but it's not quite there yet. The drivers were pleased and commented on the improvement from the current car, but I don't think it's enough.

"There was a lot more urgency placed on the car since the turn of the year and people higher up in the team want to see the car out as soon as possible, but it can't happen before it's ready. Greece was a target, but it's gone away a bit now."

The current Impreza WRC2007 has been in the spotlight again in the last couple of weeks, with the team forced to spend more time trying to fix the recurring damper problem which plagued both Solberg and Atkinson in the last round in Jordan.