Zoom Howarth looks ahead to the 2008 season

The Subaru World Rally Team's Operations Director, Paul Howarth, answers a few questions regarding the 2008 season. Although the major challenge for all the teams this year will be adapting to the new Pirelli control tyres and racing without anti-deflation mousse, the Japanese team will also be bringing in a new car during the course of the Championship.

Howarth explains how those issues will determine the Subaru team's approach, as will the logictics of a reorganised WRC calendar.

This year there is a revised calendar and 15 rallies, rather than last year's 16 events. How will that affect the way the team approaches the year?

"Jordan is new for this year, but the rest are the normal classic events on which all the teams have a great deal of experience. There are some very key events for us in the latter half of the year, which in itself will be quite demanding. The calendar is a little closer this year with a smaller gap in the middle of the year. Generally a smaller summer break is better for the team, if it works logistically. It depends on when the first rally of 2009 is held, but it's preferable to finish slightly earlier in November to have a longer period at the end of the year. It's always a balance with organisers though to ensure that they have their infrastructure in place, and sometimes that does more to dictate dates. Jordan will be tricky this year as it doesn't work with the freight like a traditional long-haul rally. Due to the timing, all of the long-haul freight will still be in Argentina so we'd ideally operate the team with two lots of kit."

This year the WRC makes the change to Pirelli control tyres. How different are these to the versions the team used in 2006 when last with Pirelli?

"In Monte Carlo we'll be using three tyres – the new tarmac soft tyre which has a new tread pattern we haven't used before. We also use a Pirelli WX tyre which we have used before, both with and without studs, as Monte Carlo is a specialist event. For the rest of the events it's more straightforward as you just have the one tyre which we're not allowed to cut. The biggest factor to be aware of on tarmac is punctures because we are not using anti-deflation mousse, but that can be avoided by changing driving style and not going quite so tight into cuts. It's a stylistic thing and those who adapt faster will gain an early advantage."