After two decades of participation and six WRC titles, Subaru pulled itself from the World Rally Championship at the end of its 2008 season. Subaru fans everywhere could not imagine the WRC without their beloved Subaru and held on to the hopes that the brand would reconsider. Now, after only about a year and a half, Subaru lovers everywhere can rejoice in the comeback of the brand. Subaru announced today that the Impreza WRX STI Spec C gained the official Group N Homologation certificate from FIA and will compete in the Rallye Deutschland of Production World Rally Championship from August 22nd, 2010. The homologation certificate is a requirement to compete in any FIA-approved racing and rallying championship.

The WRX STI spec C features enhanced engine and chassis performance as well as a lighter body on the premise of driving in motor sports. The ECU is upgraded right from the factory so the new ball bearing turbocharged DOHC 16 valve flat four EJ20 engine now delivers 308 HP and 311 lb-ft of torque. The Spec C comes complete with an aluminum hood, smaller battery, lighter windows, and some new 18 inch alloy wheels.

Press release after the jump.

Press release

Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd(FHI), the maker of Subaru automobiles, today announced that the Subaru Impreza WRX STI spec C* (Japanese specifications model) successfully completed the vehicle homologation process and received the official Group N Homologation certificate from FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) as of April 1, 2010.

To enter FIA-approved racing and rallying championships that take place around the world, cars must be homologated according to the FIA regulations. Group N (production cars) is one of the rally and off-road vehicle groups set forth by the FIA. Group N Homologation imposes strict limits on modifications to production models and is known as the category that best reflects the performance inherent to the basic production model.

Based on the Impreza WRX STI, the WRX STI spec C (launched in Japan in July last year) features enhanced engine and chassis performance as well as a lighter body on the premise of driving in motor sports. The WRX STI spec C will be driven on the Rallye Deutschland of Production World Rally Championship by Toshihiro Arai** from August 22nd, 2010.