You don't need to be in WRC to justify AWD. The handling alone speaks for itself. The problem is that this causes some folks to align the car with Subi doof-doofs and Evos. It isn't and never has been pitched at that market.
The other reason it is getting that sort of perception is that 2nd hand prices are coming down to the point where rev-head boy racers are getting their hands on them. The car is in fact pitched at a true GT mode (i.e 4 door high speed luxury touring), at which it excels. This places it more accurately though perhaps not quite in the Jaguar type of league than in rough riding noisy little shit-boxes that would be of zero interest if they hadn't been beefed up for rallying by virtue of their basic qualifying status with AWD.
As with the early Mk2 Jaguars, the low 1st and 2nd gears alone make it less suited to off-the mark drags at the lights, and out of consideration for the transmission I don't believe in sticking the boot in in low gears anyway.
CP_e Standback & PNP; CP_e 3" SS Downpipe; Corksport FMIC with Top-mount K&N filter & OEM Ram CAI; Turbosmart BOV; Dashhawk; Prosport Boost Guage; JBR solid shift bushes; DBA 4000 Wiper-Slot front rotors; Hawk Ferro-Carbon HPS Street front brake pads (@ 69,000km); Sumitomo HTRZIII's in 225/45 x 18