Subaru World Rally Team
Encyclopedia
The Subaru World Rally Team (SWRT) was Subaru
's World Rally Championship
(WRC) team. It used a distinctive blue with yellow color scheme that is a throwback to the sponsorship deal with State Express 555
, a BAT
cigarette brand popular in Asia. 555 logos were found on Subaru
cars from 1993 to 2003. Subaru's WRC efforts date back to 1980, however, the team, in its current form, has existed since 1989, when the British firm Prodrive
took over its operations, and its base moved from Japan to Banbury
, England.
Subaru used the team to showcase its all wheel drive technology. It has credited the increased sales of its vehicles, especially the Subaru Impreza
, with its success in the World Rally Championship, in addition to popularizing its all-wheel-drive system.
Its 2008 season drivers were Petter Solberg
with co-driver
Phil Mills
, and Chris Atkinson
with co-driver Stéphane Prévot. David Richards
was the team's Principal, and a founder and chairman of Prodrive.
Paul Howarth was the team's operations director and team manager. He replaced David Lapworth in 2006. Richard Taylor is the team's managing director.
The team was historically an extremely strong one, competing in the WRC longer than any other manufacturer team in their current form. It has won the manufacturers' championship three times, in (1995, 1996, and 1997), and the drivers' championship three times, in 1995, 2001, and 2003. The team's performance since the 2005 season, when Petter Solberg secured second position in the driver's championship, has been far lower than expected and the subject of much criticism.
The team's 2006 season, one that has been described as "disappointing" by Richard Taylor, was the subject of a Discovery Channel
series called Engineering the World Rally which aired in 2007. The 2007 season was little better, and called the "second season from hell" by Phil Mills.
The team withdrew from WRC competition at the end of the 2008 season
due to widespread economic downturn.
Although Subaru had participated in the World Rally Championship at various times since 1980, it was not until September 1989, that the Subaru World Rally Team, in its current form, was created. Subaru Tecnica International
(STi) president Ryuichiro Kuze forged a partnership with the British firm Prodrive
to prepare and enter the recently introduced Legacy RS in the World Rally Championship
.
. The first Subaru car entered a world rally at the 1980 Safari Rally
and since that, the team only participated in a few events per season, driving the Subaru Leone
. Drivers in the early years included Ari Vatanen, Per Eklund, Shekhar Mehta, Mike Kirkland, Possum Bourne, and Harald Demuth. The best result and only podium was achieved by Bourne at the 1987 Rally New Zealand by finishing third. With the start of the Prodrive effort, the teams competed in parallel, before being folded into each other.
Subaru Legacy RS in the 1990 season
, piloted by Finnish driver Markku Alén
. Alen remained with the team through the 1991 season
. His successes included 4th place in the 1990 Rally Finland
, also known as the 1000 Lakes Rally, and in 1991, a 3rd and two 4th places. For the 1992 season, Subaru only entered seven of the fourteen WRC events, preferring to demonstrate the car's ability on gravel rallies. The drivers for 1992 were Finn Ari Vatanen
with co-driver
Bruno Berglund and Scotsman Colin McRae
with co-driver Derek Ringer
. Both drivers were able to achieve second place finishes.
For the 1993 World Rally Championship season, the Subaru team debuted its now distinctive blue and yellow color scheme, along with a new title sponsor, State Express 555
. Ari Vatanen and Colin McRae remained the primary drivers, with the season being McRae's first complete year of World Rally Championship competition. Markku Alén, returned part-time to the team after a brief stint at Toyota in 1992, and took 4th for Subaru in Portugal. McRae took the first win for Subaru, at the eighth event of the season, Rally New Zealand
, the last outing for the Group A Subaru Legacy
rally cars.
At the next event, Rally Finland, Subaru debuted their new Prodrive developed Group A Impreza rally car, known as the Impreza 555, driven by Vatanen and Alén. Alén crashed on the first stage, and did not drive for Subaru again. Vatanen, however, showed the car to be quick, leading for much of the rally, and managing a second place finish. At the end of the season, Vatanen took seventh in the Drivers’ Championship, and Colin McRae finished in fifth with 50. Subaru finished third in the Manufacturers’ Championship. Other drivers also competed for the Subaru team at selected events. New Zealand driver Possum Bourne, veteran of Subaru's early days, joined the team for the Rally New Zealand and Rally Australia
. Piero Liatti
competed in Rallye Sanremo
and Rally Great Britain. Drivers Richard Burns
, who later joined SWRT full-time, and Alister McRae
, Colin's brother, also joined the team for Rally Great Britain. Drivers Per Eklund
and Hannu Mikkola
drove for the team in Rally Sweden.
joined the team with co-driver Luis Moya, and took the Impreza 555 to its first win at the Acropolis Rally in Greece. It later took wins New Zealand and Great Britain with McRae at the wheel. In the Championship for Manufacturers, they achieved a second place finish, behind Toyota, with Sainz placing second in the driver's championship, and McRae placing fourth. Other drivers for the Subaru team in 1994 included Patrick Njiru
, competing in the Safari Rally, Richard Burns in the Safari Rally and Rally Great Britain, Possum Bourne in New Zealand, and Piero Liatti at Rallye Sanremo.
For the 1995 season, the primary drivers remained Sainz in the number 5 car and McRae in the number 4 car. Sainz won the season opening round at the Rallye Monte Carlo, while McRae crashed out of the event. At Rally Sweden, Sainz, McRae, and third driver Mats Jonsson all retired with engine trouble. Sainz won again at the Rally Portugal, while McRae finished in third place. At the Rallye de France, Sainz, McRae, and third driver Piero Liatti
finished in the fourth, fifth, and sixth places respectively. At Rally New Zealand, McRae took his first win of the season. Other drivers for the team included Possum Bourne, who finished in seventh place, and Richard Burns who retired with a mechanical failure. At the Rally Australia, McRae took second place. Sainz retired after his radiator failed, while third driver Bourne retired after an accident. At the Rallye Catalunya, Subaru locked out the podium with a 1–2–3 finish. Sainz took first, McRae took second, and third driver Piero Liatti finished third. Sainz's first place finish in Catalunya left he and McRae tied for points going into the last event of the season, the RAC Rally Great Britain. McRae won out, taking first place at his home event, clinching his first and only Driver's Championship, a first for the Subaru team. Sainz finished close behind in second place, giving him second in the Championship, and third driver Richard Burns finished in third place, giving the team a second consecutive 1–2–3 finish. Between McRae and Sainz the team managed to win five of the season's eight rallies for Subaru, winning the team its first Constructors Championship. At the end of the season, Sainz left Subaru to join Ford World Rallye Sport.
For the 1996 World Rally Championship season, Colin McRae was again the lead driver for Subaru. Following his 1995 Championship victory, his Impreza 555 wore the #1 plate. He was joined by team drivers Kenneth Eriksson
, in the #2 car, and Piero Liatti
, with their co-drivers, Staffan Parmander and Mario Ferfoglia, respectively. At the first event of the season, Rally Sweden, McRae took third, Eriksson took fifth, and Liatti took twelfth. 1994 World Drivers' Champion Didier Auriol
also drove for the Subaru team in Sweden, taking his #3 car to tenth place. At the second round, the Safari Rally, Liatti's number was changed from #10 to #3. He took fifth place. McRae took fourth while Eriksson took second. At the Rally Indonesia
, Liatti finished in second place, while McRae and Eriksson both retired following accidents. McRae's first victory of the season was at the Acropolis Rally, the fourth round of the championship. Liatti and Erikkson placed fourth and fifth respectively. Eriksson took third and Liatti fifth at Rally Argentina. McRae crashed out of Rally Argentina and the following event, Rally Finland. Liatti didn't compete in Finland, though Eriksson managed to finish in 5th place. McRae, Eriksson, and Liatti finished finished 4th, 2nd, and 7th respectively at Rally Australia. In Sanremo, McRae took victory, with Eriksson finishing in 5th. Liatti retired following an electrical failure. At the last round of the season, Rallye Catalunya, McRae took a second consecutive victory. Subaru took a 1–2 finish with Liatti finishing second. Eriksson finished in seventh position. Thanks to consistent podium finishes, Subaru successfully defended its Constructors' Championship, but McRae lost the Driver's Championship to Tommi Makinen
.
. Secondary driver/co-driver teams included Piero Liatti/Fabrizia Pons (first in Monte Carlo), Olivier Burri/Christophe Hofmann and Kenneth Eriksson/Staffan Parmander (first in Sweden and New Zealand). Once again the team successfully defended its Constructors Championship, winning eight victories out of the fourteen rallies, but McRae again lost the Driver's Championship to Tommi Makinen
, this time by just one point.
In 1998 the team had an almost unchanged line-up, although Jahu Kangas/Pentti Kuukkala and Jarno Kytölehto/Arto Kapanen participated in one round each. McRae took wins in Portugal, Corsica and Greece. However, bad weather and mechanical failures hurt the team, and Subaru and McRae finished third in their respective championships. At the end of the season, McRae left the team to join Ford, with the tantalizing prospect of driving their brand-new car, the Ford Focus WRC
.
Subaru had an all new line up for the 1999 season, with the nominated driver/co-driver teams of Richard Burns
/Robert Reid
, Juha Kankkunen
/Juha Repo, and third team of Bruno Thiry
/Stéphane Prévot. The new car, the WRC99, featured an electronically controlled semi-automatic transmission
with a drive-by-wire throttle. Due to technical difficulties, the team struggled until the season's 7th round in Argentina. From there on, the teams earned the podium in seven out of eight events, with five wins, three of which were 1–2 finishes. Subaru finished second in the Manufacturers’ Championship, just four points behind Toyota. Burns scored victories in Greece, Australia, and Wales, for second place and Kankkunen took fourth in the Drivers’ Championship, with wins in Argentina and Finland.
Burns and Kankkunen continued to drive for Subaru for the 2000 season, with Petter Solberg
joining the team halfway through the season, driving in the Rallye de France. The team finished third in the championship, and Burns took second in the Drivers' Championship for the second year in a row.
Burns and Solberg composed Subaru's nominated line-up for the 2001 season with Markko Märtin
/Michael Park
and Toshi Arai
/Tony Sircombe competing in selected events. Subaru again won the Driver's Championships in 2001 with Richard Burns
and co-driver Robert Reid. Burns left Subaru for Peugeot
at the end of the 2001 season.
For the 2002 season, Burns was replaced by Tommi Mäkinen
and co-driver Kaj Lindström. Petter Solberg continued with the team, and Pasi Hagstrom was the team's test driver. Following the October 2001 signing of four time driver's Championship winner Mäkinen, expectations for the team ran high. However, after a season opening win in Monte Carlo, he was only able to finish five more events during the entire season. His teammate, Solberg fared much better, finishing nine events, five of which were podium finishes, including his first ever WRC win, at Rally Great Britain, the season's last round. The win propelled him past Ford's Carlos Sainz into second in the Drivers' Championship.
For the 2003 season, the driver line-up remained unchanged from the previous year. Solberg drove the #7 car, Mäkinen the #8 car. The season got off to a poor start, with neither driver finishing the Rallye Monte Carlo. Solberg then scored four outright wins, in Cyprus, Australia, France, and finished the season with his second straight win in Britain, securing him the Driver's Championship for himself and co-driver Phil Mills
, narrowly beating Sebastian Loeb by one point. The team only managed to achieve third place in the manufacturers' championship, beaten by Citroen and Peugeot. At the end of the season, Tommi Mäkinen retired from the WRC.
For the 2004 season, Solberg was joined by Finnish driver Mikko Hirvonen
and his co-driver Jarmo Lehtinen. Subaru managed to consolidate third place in the Manufacturer's Championship again, while Solberg was second in the Driver's Championship, winning five of the season's rallies: New Zealand, Greece, Japan, Italy and a third consecutive win at Rally Wales. Hirvonen ended the season in seventh place, failing to impress the Subaru team management. He was not re-signed for the 2005 season.
In 2005, Petter Solberg
again led the team in the #5 car, while Hirvonen was replaced by Chris Atkinson
in the #6 car. The young Australian debuted with the Uddeholm Swedish Rally, and finished third at Rally Japan
. Petter Solberg achieved back-to-back victories in Mexico and Sweden, early in the season. He finished the season behind Sébastien Loeb
, tied for second place with Marcus Grönholm
. In the Manufacturer's championship, Subaru only managed to finish fourth overall, ahead of Mitsubishi and Skoda.
Petter Solberg again led the team throughout the 2006 season, with the second car piloted by Chris Atkinson
and co-driver Glenn MacNeall on gravel
events, while on tarmac
events, it was driven by ex-Formula One
driver Stéphane Sarrazin
. The WRC2006 had several changes from the previous year's car due to rule changes which banned active differentials as well as water injection
, as well as mandating that teams must re-use cars and engines on selected ‘pairs’ of events. Due to the rule changes, the car was introduced on the first round of the season.
Subaru's season got off to a poor start, with Solberg unable to score in the first two rallies due to mechanical failures. Due to the teams lacklustre performance, after a decade of running the team, team boss David Lapworth was replaced by Paul Howarth. Not until the third rally of the season, Rally Mexico, would Petter manage to score, achieving a second place finish. He picked up another second place finish at Rally Argentina
, and again at Rally Australia. The team finished the season in third place in the manufacturer's championship, while Solberg finished in sixth place in the driver's championship. However, the team was not able to achieve a single win, and achieved podium results only four times. Subaru's 2006 season was characterized as disappointing, and was the subject of a Discovery Channel
series called Engineering the World Rally. In the programme, Subaru's dismal season was described as 'The Season from Hell'.
Solberg again led the team for the 2007 season
, driving the #7 Impreza. Sarrazin left the team, leaving Chris Atkinson as the single number two driver, piloting the #8 car. Atkinson managed to grab fourth place at the season opening event in Monte Carlo, after passing the works Ford of Mikko Hirvonen
. At the 2007 Rally Portugal
, Solberg came in second, following the Ford cars' disqualification due to the glass in their rear windows being too thin. Following the rally, Atkinson's co-driver, Glenn MacNeall, elected to leave the team, and was replaced by Stéphane Prévot, who had previously been with the team as co-driver for Bruno Thiry. At the 2007 Acropolis Rally
Solberg managed to achieve a podium position.
After the summer break, the team was joined at the 2007 Rally Finland
by Xavier Pons
and co-driver Xavier Amigo, driving a third car, #25, not nominated for manufacturer points. However in the rally, Solberg had to retire on day two, after monstrous handling and steering problems which the team engineers were unable to deal with. Solberg finished fifth in Ireland
, calling it "the most difficult rally he has ever done." At the final event of the season, Wales Rally GB
, Solberg won the battle for fourth with Dani Sordo
, propelling Subaru to third place in the manufacturer's standings. In the driver's championship, Solberg came in 5th, while Atkinson took 7th. Richard Taylor called the season a "poor" one, with Subaru only achieving two podium finishes, and no overall wins for the second year in a row. Phil Mills called it the "second season from hell."
. Xavier Pons left the team, although there is a possibility that he will return. With the FIA mandated switch to Pirelli
tires, tyre mousse has been banned, and fewer compounds are available.
At the first rally of the season, the 2008 Monte Carlo Rally
, Atkinson scored his first podium finish on tarmac
, after a close battle with François Duval
while Solberg finished in fifth. In the 2008 Swedish Rally
, Solberg finished in fourth place while Atkinson finished in 21st position following a spin on Special Stage 3, which cost him over 15 minutes. Immediately after the Swedish Rally, the team completed a gravel test in Spain, in preparation for Rally Mexico, the last test using the WRC2007 car. At the 2008 Rally Mexico
, Atkinson placed second, his best ever result. Solberg was forced to retire on the second day after a driveshaft failure to his front left wheel. He continued under SupeRally rules on Sunday, finishing 12th. Going into the final day of the 2008 Rally Argentina
, Solberg and Atkinson were comfortably in second and third position, poised to put two cars on the podium, a feat Subaru has not accomplished in several years. However, on Special Stage 19, Petter's car suffered an electrical failure, forcing him to retire. Atkinson inherited Solberg's position, and achieved a second place finish for the second consecutive time. At the 2008 Jordan Rally
, on SS6, Solberg's retired after his Impreza suffered from a damper failure, which then spilled oil, lighting a fire under the hood of the car. Solberg restarted under SupeRally rules on Saturday, but crashed on the day's final stage after brake problems. Atkinson managed to secure a third podium in a row, following the suspension failure of Latvala, and the retirements of Solberg and Loeb.
exited the sport.
Subaru Leone
DL at the 1980 Safari Rally. In 1984 the model was changed to 3rd generation Leone coupé, one year later installed with a turbo. The other model used simultaneously with the coupé turbo until 1989 was the Leone sedan RX Turbo.
Subaru Legacy RS rally car, based on the roadgoing Subaru Legacy sedan. The Legacy was powered by a longitudinally mounted boxer engine, giving it a low center of gravity. Already equipped with a symmetrical all wheel drive system, it made a good starting point for a rally car. David Lapworth described the development of the car as a "steep learning curve." The car lacked power and a weak transmission and braking system also hampered the car. To correct its flaws, Prodrive completed a new car, the 1992 Legacy RS, which featured a totally redesigned fuel injection
system, during the 1991 season, introduced on the season's last rally. The team campaigned the 1992 Legacy during the first part of the 1993 season, and on its last rally, achieved the car's first and only win.
For 1993, Prodrive recognized that a smaller, nimbler car would make a better platform for a rally car, and work on a Group A Impreza rally car began. It was 160 mm shorter in overall length with a 60 mm shorter wheelbase, as well as having a more neutral front/rear weight ratio. It also featured active differentials, a first for a rally car. At the 1000 Lakes Rally, Subaru debuted their new Prodrive developed Impreza derived Group A rally car, driven by Vatanen and Alén. Vatanen drove the car to second place on its debut.
In 1994, the Subaru team switched from Michelin
to Pirelli
tires.
For the 1995 season, the FIA mandated more restrictive air intakes in an effort to slow the cars down. Subaru countered this by introducing a new boxer engine with revised camshaft
s and a different compression ratio
.
For 1997, the FIA replaced the Group A
formula with a new formula called World Rally Car
. This gave teams greater latitude in design and materials including vehicle width, suspension geometry, aerodynamics, intercooler
capacity and engine modifications. This led to a totally redesigned car, the WRC97, featuring modified camshafts, cylinder ports and combustion chambers. The width of the car increased to 1,770 mm (69.9 in) with a revised suspension geometry. Power increased to 300 hp @ 5500 rpm, and torque was now 347 lb ft.
The Impreza WRC98 was an evolution of the earlier WRC97, with computer controlled active differentials in the front, rear, and center, and an electronic throttle. Mechanical failures were common and took the team out of contention for the title.
The WRC99, introduced at the first round of the championship, featured an electronically controlled, hydraulically actuated semi-automatic transmission
with a drive-by-wire throttle, allowing the cars to be shifted with steering wheel mounted paddles, similar to F1
cars. This allowed the driver to shift gears faster, and reduced the chance of dog gear
wear. Due to technical difficulties, the team struggled until the season's 7th round in Argentina. However, the car helped prove much of the technology seen on later cars. Subaru was the first rally team to implement this technology, which is now used on all WRC cars.
Although the WRC2000 looked almost identical to the WRC99, underneath the sheet metal, its execution was radically different. Developed by Prodrive
engineer Christian Loriaux, the team used the lessons learned from the WRC99 and applied them in the WRC2000's 10 month development, in which over 80% of the car's mechanical and electronic components were redesigned. The car debuted, and drove to victory, at the fourth event of the season, Rally Portugal.
The WRC2001 featured an entirely new look, based on the GD chassis Impreza WRX. The new body had four doors (instead of two), and featured revised aerodynamics, improved weight distribution, and a lower center of gravity. However, all the mechanical development from the previous year, including the engine, suspension, and drivetrain remained, with subtle refinements.
The WRC2002 was introduced at Corsica, and looked largely the same as the previous year's car. However, development of the car continued throughout the season. Improvements were made to the driveshaft, transmission housing, and steering column, as well as to the turbo-charger and manifold, which was changed from a 4–2–1 configuration to a 4–1 configuration. Savings found in modified brackets, wiring, and glass reduced weight by 33 lbs.
The WRC2003 was introduced at the 2003 Rallye Monte Carlo. It featured a revised look based on the updated Impreza introduced the previous year. Technical improvements were made to the turbocharger and engine, aiming to increase torque at lower RPMs allowing greater driveability. The car's body shell was made both lighter and stiffer. Throughout the year modifications were made to the car's suspension.
The WRC2004 did not feature many cosmetic changes from the previous year's car, but did have refinements in the engine and body panels. It was introduced at Rally Mexico
. A revised gearbox was introduced halfway through the season.
The WRC2005 was introduced following 12 months of joint development by Subaru
and Prodrive
, on 11 March 2005 at Rally Mexico. Its re-styled bodyshell was stiffer, and 30 mm wider to allow a wider track. The car featured more composite body panels, including front and rear wheel arches and bumpers in order to decrease weight. Engine enhancements included a lightened flywheel and revised IHI turbocharger. Revised water injection
and fuel injection
systems were also introduced.
The WRC2006 had several changes from the previous year's car due to rule changes which banned active differentials as well as water injection, as well as mandating that teams must re-use cars and engines on selected ‘pairs’ of events. Due to the rule changes, the car was introduced on the first round of the season.
The WRC2007, a revised version of the earlier year's car, was introduced at the fourth round of the championship, Rally Mexico
. It featured new dampers, a different radiator and intercooler arrangement, as well as improved weight distribution, suspension geometry and differential set-ups. It was considered to be underachieving compared to the newly introduced 2007 Focus WRC and the all-new Citroen C4 WRC. The car suffered from extensive handling problems, resulting in Subaru withdrawing from Rally Finland
on the second day of the rally.
Each transmission in the WRC2007 takes 85 hours build, and costs over ₤75,000. The front and rear differentials are similar while the center differential is unique. Each takes around 16 hours to build costs about ₤20,000. The cases for the transmission and differentials are constructed from magnesium to reduce weight. Filled with oil, the transmission weighs 95 kg, and a differential weighs 25 kg. The car's engine, transmission and differential are individually oil sealed, so that they can be removed and replaced without fluid loss. This also helps the team replace the components in 10–12 minutes. The transmission's lubrication system has a 4.5 liter capacity and is includes an oil pump to keep control differential temperatures, which usually operate around 100C. The transmission retains the roadgoing Impreza's H pattern but utilizes a hydraulically actuated and electronically controlled semi-automatic gearshift. The hydraulic gear shift system operates at a pressure of 2,500psi, allowing gear shifts to be completed in less than .1 seconds.
. In which Prodrive found this inferior, and converted the cars rear suspension, back to the original MacPherson design. However, an updated 2007 car will be used for the first few rallies, with the 2008 car introduced after that. Markko Märtin
signed a deal to become the official test driver for the Subaru team in 2008, and has thus far done the majority of the testing on the WRC2008.
During a 4 day test at Sardinia between 30 April and 3 May 2008, Petter Solberg and Chris Atkinson drove the WRC2008 for the first time. A date for its debut was still not given.
On 20 May 2008, the Subaru World Rally Team confirmed its new Impreza World Rally Car (WRC2008) will make its WRC debut at the Acropolis Rally of Greece, beginning on the 29th of May. On the cars rally debut, the WRC2008 scored its first podium finish with Petter Solberg placing 2nd in the Acropolis Rally.
and Richard Thompson is the chief engineer for Chris Atkinson
. Chris Wattam is the chief mechanic.
Subaru
; is the automobile manufacturing division of Japanese transportation conglomerate Fuji Heavy Industries .Subaru is internationally known for their use of the boxer engine layout popularized in cars by the Volkswagen Beetle and Porsche 911, in most of their vehicles above 1500 cc as well as...
's World Rally Championship
World Rally Championship
The World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 13...
(WRC) team. It used a distinctive blue with yellow color scheme that is a throwback to the sponsorship deal with State Express 555
State Express 555
State Express 555 is a brand of cigarette manufactured by British American Tobacco. It was first launched in 1895 and is a very popular brand in Asia, especially China where it is BAT's most popular brand.-Sponsorship:...
, a BAT
British American Tobacco
British American Tobacco p.l.c. is a global tobacco company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s second largest quoted tobacco company by global market share , with a leading position in more than 50 countries and a presence in more than 180 countries...
cigarette brand popular in Asia. 555 logos were found on Subaru
Subaru
; is the automobile manufacturing division of Japanese transportation conglomerate Fuji Heavy Industries .Subaru is internationally known for their use of the boxer engine layout popularized in cars by the Volkswagen Beetle and Porsche 911, in most of their vehicles above 1500 cc as well as...
cars from 1993 to 2003. Subaru's WRC efforts date back to 1980, however, the team, in its current form, has existed since 1989, when the British firm Prodrive
Prodrive
Prodrive is a British motorsport and automotive engineering group based in Banbury, Oxfordshire, England. It designs, constructs and races cars for companies and teams such as Subaru, Aston Martin and Ford...
took over its operations, and its base moved from Japan to Banbury
Banbury
Banbury is a market town and civil parish on the River Cherwell in the Cherwell District of Oxfordshire. It is northwest of London, southeast of Birmingham, south of Coventry and north northwest of the county town of Oxford...
, England.
Subaru used the team to showcase its all wheel drive technology. It has credited the increased sales of its vehicles, especially the Subaru Impreza
Subaru Impreza
Introduced in November 1993, the Impreza was offered in either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive versions and as a four-door sedan/saloon or five-door station wagon/estate. According to a Motor Trend article written March 1992 on page 26, the name of Subaru's new compact was, initially, to be...
, with its success in the World Rally Championship, in addition to popularizing its all-wheel-drive system.
Its 2008 season drivers were Petter Solberg
Petter Solberg
Petter "Hollywood" Solberg , from Spydeberg in Østfold, Norway, is a professional rally driver. He debuted in the World Rally Championship in 1998 and was signed by the Ford factory team in 1999...
with co-driver
Co-driver
Co-driver is the term given to the navigator of rally car in the sport of rally racing, who sits in the front passenger seat. The co-driver's job is to navigate, by reading off a set of pacenotes to the driver, often over a radio headset, due to the high level of noise in the car...
Phil Mills
Phil Mills
Phil Mills is a Welsh rally racing co-driver. He was winner of the 2003 World Rally Championship , as co-driver to Petter Solberg....
, and Chris Atkinson
Chris Atkinson
Chris Atkinson in Bega, New South Wales, Australia) is a professional rally driver. In the WRC , he drove for the Subaru World Rally Team from 2004-2008. His best finish on an individual WRC event is second, which he achieved at the 2008 Rally México and Rally Argentina...
with co-driver Stéphane Prévot. David Richards
David Richards (racing)
David Pender Richards CBE is the chairman of Prodrive and Aston Martin, and a former team principal of the BAR and Benetton Formula One motor racing teams. He lives with his wife, Karen, in Warwickshire and has three children....
was the team's Principal, and a founder and chairman of Prodrive.
Paul Howarth was the team's operations director and team manager. He replaced David Lapworth in 2006. Richard Taylor is the team's managing director.
The team was historically an extremely strong one, competing in the WRC longer than any other manufacturer team in their current form. It has won the manufacturers' championship three times, in (1995, 1996, and 1997), and the drivers' championship three times, in 1995, 2001, and 2003. The team's performance since the 2005 season, when Petter Solberg secured second position in the driver's championship, has been far lower than expected and the subject of much criticism.
The team's 2006 season, one that has been described as "disappointing" by Richard Taylor, was the subject of a Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
series called Engineering the World Rally which aired in 2007. The 2007 season was little better, and called the "second season from hell" by Phil Mills.
The team withdrew from WRC competition at the end of the 2008 season
2008 World Rally Championship season
The 2008 World Rally Championship season was the 36th season of the FIA World Rally Championship. The season consisted of 15 rallies and began on January 24, with the 2008 Monte Carlo Rally....
due to widespread economic downturn.
Racing history
Subaru Tecnica International
, or STi, is Fuji Heavy Industries' motorsports division. STi, along with Prodrive of the UK specializes in the preparation of a variety of vehicles for the Subaru World Rally Team which competed in the World Rally Championship...
(STi) president Ryuichiro Kuze forged a partnership with the British firm Prodrive
Prodrive
Prodrive is a British motorsport and automotive engineering group based in Banbury, Oxfordshire, England. It designs, constructs and races cars for companies and teams such as Subaru, Aston Martin and Ford...
to prepare and enter the recently introduced Legacy RS in the World Rally Championship
World Rally Championship
The World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 13...
.
1980–1989
Subaru's initial forays into the World Rally Championship were with Subaru Rally Team Japan, run by Noriyuki Koseki, the founder of Subaru Tecnica InternationalSubaru Tecnica International
, or STi, is Fuji Heavy Industries' motorsports division. STi, along with Prodrive of the UK specializes in the preparation of a variety of vehicles for the Subaru World Rally Team which competed in the World Rally Championship...
. The first Subaru car entered a world rally at the 1980 Safari Rally
Safari Rally
The Safari Rally is considered by many to be the world's toughest rally. It was first held from 27 May to 1 June 1953 as the East African Coronation Safari in Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika, as a celebration of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II...
and since that, the team only participated in a few events per season, driving the Subaru Leone
Subaru Leone
The Subaru Leone was a compact car produced by the Japanese car manufacturer Fuji Heavy Industries from 1971 to 1994. The word "leone" is Italian for lion....
. Drivers in the early years included Ari Vatanen, Per Eklund, Shekhar Mehta, Mike Kirkland, Possum Bourne, and Harald Demuth. The best result and only podium was achieved by Bourne at the 1987 Rally New Zealand by finishing third. With the start of the Prodrive effort, the teams competed in parallel, before being folded into each other.
1990–1992
Subaru entered its first Prodrive developed car, the Group AGroup A
In relation to motorsport governed by the FIA, Group A referred to a set of regulations providing production-derived vehicles for outright competition. In contrast to the short-lived Group B and Group C, the Group A referred to production-derived vehicles limited in terms of power, weight, allowed...
Subaru Legacy RS in the 1990 season
1990 World Rally Championship season
The 1990 World Rally Championship season was the 18th season of the FIA World Rally Championship. The season consisted of 12 rallies. The drivers' world championship was won by Carlos Sainz in a Toyota Celica GT-Four, ahead of Didier Auriol and Juha Kankkunen...
, piloted by Finnish driver Markku Alén
Markku Alén
Markku Allan Alén is a Finnish former rally and race car driver. He drove for Fiat, Lancia, Subaru and Toyota in the World Rally Championship, and held the record for most stage wins in the series until 2011...
. Alen remained with the team through the 1991 season
1991 World Rally Championship season
The 1991 World Rally Championship season was the 19th season of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile World Rally Championship . The season consisted of 14 rallies. The drivers' world championship was won by Juha Kankkunen in a Lancia Delta Integrale 16V, ahead of Carlos Sainz and Didier...
. His successes included 4th place in the 1990 Rally Finland
Rally Finland
The Neste Oil Rally Finland is a rally event driven in the Jyväskylä area in Central Finland. It is the biggest annually organised public event in the Nordic countries, gathering over 500,000 spectators every year....
, also known as the 1000 Lakes Rally, and in 1991, a 3rd and two 4th places. For the 1992 season, Subaru only entered seven of the fourteen WRC events, preferring to demonstrate the car's ability on gravel rallies. The drivers for 1992 were Finn Ari Vatanen
Ari Vatanen
Ari Pieti Uolevi Vatanen is a Finnish rally driver turned politician and Member of the European Parliament 1999–2009. Vatanen won the World Rally Championship drivers' title in 1981 and the Paris Dakar Rally four times....
with co-driver
Co-driver
Co-driver is the term given to the navigator of rally car in the sport of rally racing, who sits in the front passenger seat. The co-driver's job is to navigate, by reading off a set of pacenotes to the driver, often over a radio headset, due to the high level of noise in the car...
Bruno Berglund and Scotsman Colin McRae
Colin McRae
Colin Steele McRae, MBE was a Scottish rally driver born in Lanark.The son of five-time British Rally Champion Jimmy McRae and brother of rally driver Alister McRae, Colin McRae was the 1991 and 1992 British Rally Champion and, in 1995, became the first British person and the youngest to win the...
with co-driver Derek Ringer
Derek Ringer
Derek Ringer is a Scottish rally co-driver. He is most closely associated with Colin McRae, with whom he won the 1995 World Rally Championship....
. Both drivers were able to achieve second place finishes.
1993
State Express 555
State Express 555 is a brand of cigarette manufactured by British American Tobacco. It was first launched in 1895 and is a very popular brand in Asia, especially China where it is BAT's most popular brand.-Sponsorship:...
. Ari Vatanen and Colin McRae remained the primary drivers, with the season being McRae's first complete year of World Rally Championship competition. Markku Alén, returned part-time to the team after a brief stint at Toyota in 1992, and took 4th for Subaru in Portugal. McRae took the first win for Subaru, at the eighth event of the season, Rally New Zealand
Rally New Zealand
The Rally New Zealand was first held in Taupo in 1969, and was subsequently staged in Canterbury, before moving back to the North Island in 1971.The rally was included as a round of the World Championship in 1977...
, the last outing for the Group A Subaru Legacy
Subaru Legacy
The Subaru Legacy is a mid-size car built by the Japanese company Fuji Heavy Industries, and manufactured by its division Subaru since 1989, and is available as a sedan or wagon. Part of the original design goals for the Legacy model was to provide Subaru a vehicle in which they could compete in...
rally cars.
At the next event, Rally Finland, Subaru debuted their new Prodrive developed Group A Impreza rally car, known as the Impreza 555, driven by Vatanen and Alén. Alén crashed on the first stage, and did not drive for Subaru again. Vatanen, however, showed the car to be quick, leading for much of the rally, and managing a second place finish. At the end of the season, Vatanen took seventh in the Drivers’ Championship, and Colin McRae finished in fifth with 50. Subaru finished third in the Manufacturers’ Championship. Other drivers also competed for the Subaru team at selected events. New Zealand driver Possum Bourne, veteran of Subaru's early days, joined the team for the Rally New Zealand and Rally Australia
Rally Australia
Rally Australia is an automobile rally event which was held in and around Perth, Western Australia from 1988 until 2006, when that state's tourism commission severed its collaboration with the event. The rally was part of the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship in 1988 and the World Rally Championship...
. Piero Liatti
Piero Liatti
Piero Liatti is an Italian rally driver. His speciality was driving on Tarmac rallies like Monte Carlo, Catalunya, Corsica and the San Remo Rally.-Biography:...
competed in Rallye Sanremo
Rallye Sanremo
Rallye Sanremo is a rally competition held in Sanremo, Italy. Except for the 1995 event, the event was part of the FIA World Rally Championship schedule from the 1973 season to the 2003 season. Currently, it is a round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge and the Italian national rally...
and Rally Great Britain. Drivers Richard Burns
Richard Burns
Richard Alexander Burns was an English rally driver. He was born in Reading, Berkshire. He was the 2001 World Rally Champion, having previously finished runner-up in the series in 1999 and 2000. He also helped Mitsubishi to the world manufacturers' title in 1998, and Peugeot in 2002...
, who later joined SWRT full-time, and Alister McRae
Alister McRae
Alister McRae is a Scottish rally driver, who competed in the World Rally Championship. He is the son of the five-time British Rally Champion Jimmy McRae and the younger brother of the late 1995 World Rally Champion, Colin McRae...
, Colin's brother, also joined the team for Rally Great Britain. Drivers Per Eklund
Per Eklund
Per Eklund, born on June 26, 1946 in Skönnerud , Eda Municipality of Värmland in Sweden, is a Rally and Rallycross driver who lives in Arvika. His nickname is "Pekka". In rallying he never made it to the very top but he has been very successful in his later rallycross career.- Saab works...
and Hannu Mikkola
Hannu Mikkola
Hannu Olavi Mikkola is a retired world champion rally driver. He was a seven time winner of the 1000 Lakes Rally in Finland and won the RAC Rally in Great Britain four times.- Career :...
drove for the team in Rally Sweden.
1994–1995
In 1994, former World Rally Drivers' Champion Carlos SainzCarlos Sainz
Carlos Sainz Cenamor is a Spanish rally driver. He won the World Rally Championship drivers' title with Toyota in 1990 and 1992, and finished runner-up four times...
joined the team with co-driver Luis Moya, and took the Impreza 555 to its first win at the Acropolis Rally in Greece. It later took wins New Zealand and Great Britain with McRae at the wheel. In the Championship for Manufacturers, they achieved a second place finish, behind Toyota, with Sainz placing second in the driver's championship, and McRae placing fourth. Other drivers for the Subaru team in 1994 included Patrick Njiru
Patrick Njiru
Patrick Njiru is a Kenyan Rally Driver with Subaru World Rally Team from 1983 to 2002. He has so far retired from competitive racing but often take part in organizing and competing in Charity Races like the November 2011, Race4Change in Kenya.-References:...
, competing in the Safari Rally, Richard Burns in the Safari Rally and Rally Great Britain, Possum Bourne in New Zealand, and Piero Liatti at Rallye Sanremo.
For the 1995 season, the primary drivers remained Sainz in the number 5 car and McRae in the number 4 car. Sainz won the season opening round at the Rallye Monte Carlo, while McRae crashed out of the event. At Rally Sweden, Sainz, McRae, and third driver Mats Jonsson all retired with engine trouble. Sainz won again at the Rally Portugal, while McRae finished in third place. At the Rallye de France, Sainz, McRae, and third driver Piero Liatti
Piero Liatti
Piero Liatti is an Italian rally driver. His speciality was driving on Tarmac rallies like Monte Carlo, Catalunya, Corsica and the San Remo Rally.-Biography:...
finished in the fourth, fifth, and sixth places respectively. At Rally New Zealand, McRae took his first win of the season. Other drivers for the team included Possum Bourne, who finished in seventh place, and Richard Burns who retired with a mechanical failure. At the Rally Australia, McRae took second place. Sainz retired after his radiator failed, while third driver Bourne retired after an accident. At the Rallye Catalunya, Subaru locked out the podium with a 1–2–3 finish. Sainz took first, McRae took second, and third driver Piero Liatti finished third. Sainz's first place finish in Catalunya left he and McRae tied for points going into the last event of the season, the RAC Rally Great Britain. McRae won out, taking first place at his home event, clinching his first and only Driver's Championship, a first for the Subaru team. Sainz finished close behind in second place, giving him second in the Championship, and third driver Richard Burns finished in third place, giving the team a second consecutive 1–2–3 finish. Between McRae and Sainz the team managed to win five of the season's eight rallies for Subaru, winning the team its first Constructors Championship. At the end of the season, Sainz left Subaru to join Ford World Rallye Sport.
1996
Kenneth Eriksson
Kenneth Eriksson is a now retired World Rally Championship rally driver. He drove for several manufacturer teams, including the Subaru World Rally Team, Mitsubishi, Hyundai and Škoda...
, in the #2 car, and Piero Liatti
Piero Liatti
Piero Liatti is an Italian rally driver. His speciality was driving on Tarmac rallies like Monte Carlo, Catalunya, Corsica and the San Remo Rally.-Biography:...
, with their co-drivers, Staffan Parmander and Mario Ferfoglia, respectively. At the first event of the season, Rally Sweden, McRae took third, Eriksson took fifth, and Liatti took twelfth. 1994 World Drivers' Champion Didier Auriol
Didier Auriol
Didier Auriol is a French rally driver.Born in Montpellier, and initially an ambulance driver, Auriol made his name as a French rally driver in the World Rally Championship throughout the 1990s. He became World Rally Champion in 1994, the first from his country to do so...
also drove for the Subaru team in Sweden, taking his #3 car to tenth place. At the second round, the Safari Rally, Liatti's number was changed from #10 to #3. He took fifth place. McRae took fourth while Eriksson took second. At the Rally Indonesia
Rally Indonesia
Rally Indonesia is the largest rallying event held in Indonesia. Currently part of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship , it has twice been incorporated into the World Rally Championship calendar, in 1996 and 1997...
, Liatti finished in second place, while McRae and Eriksson both retired following accidents. McRae's first victory of the season was at the Acropolis Rally, the fourth round of the championship. Liatti and Erikkson placed fourth and fifth respectively. Eriksson took third and Liatti fifth at Rally Argentina. McRae crashed out of Rally Argentina and the following event, Rally Finland. Liatti didn't compete in Finland, though Eriksson managed to finish in 5th place. McRae, Eriksson, and Liatti finished finished 4th, 2nd, and 7th respectively at Rally Australia. In Sanremo, McRae took victory, with Eriksson finishing in 5th. Liatti retired following an electrical failure. At the last round of the season, Rallye Catalunya, McRae took a second consecutive victory. Subaru took a 1–2 finish with Liatti finishing second. Eriksson finished in seventh position. Thanks to consistent podium finishes, Subaru successfully defended its Constructors' Championship, but McRae lost the Driver's Championship to Tommi Makinen
Tommi Mäkinen
"Turbo" Tommi Antero Mäkinen , tied with Juha Kankkunen and behind Sébastien Loeb , and fifth in wins .He is a four-time World Rally Champion, a series he first won, and then successfully defended, continuously throughout 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999, on all occasions driving the Ralliart Mitsubishi...
.
1997–1998
For 1997, McRae again led the team, however his co-driver Derek Ringer was replaced by Welshman Nicky GristNicky Grist
Nicky Grist is a Welsh former rally co-driver, born in Ebbw Vale. His factory team career in the World Rally Championship lasted from 1993 to 2002. He won 21 rallies and one World championship titles, with more than one driver....
. Secondary driver/co-driver teams included Piero Liatti/Fabrizia Pons (first in Monte Carlo), Olivier Burri/Christophe Hofmann and Kenneth Eriksson/Staffan Parmander (first in Sweden and New Zealand). Once again the team successfully defended its Constructors Championship, winning eight victories out of the fourteen rallies, but McRae again lost the Driver's Championship to Tommi Makinen
Tommi Mäkinen
"Turbo" Tommi Antero Mäkinen , tied with Juha Kankkunen and behind Sébastien Loeb , and fifth in wins .He is a four-time World Rally Champion, a series he first won, and then successfully defended, continuously throughout 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999, on all occasions driving the Ralliart Mitsubishi...
, this time by just one point.
In 1998 the team had an almost unchanged line-up, although Jahu Kangas/Pentti Kuukkala and Jarno Kytölehto/Arto Kapanen participated in one round each. McRae took wins in Portugal, Corsica and Greece. However, bad weather and mechanical failures hurt the team, and Subaru and McRae finished third in their respective championships. At the end of the season, McRae left the team to join Ford, with the tantalizing prospect of driving their brand-new car, the Ford Focus WRC
Ford Focus WRC
The Ford Focus RS WRC is a car built for the Ford World Rally Team by Ford and M-Sport and based on the Ford Focus Climate 2-litre production hatchback, developed to compete in the World Rally Championship. The RS stands for Rallye Sport and the WRC for World Rally Car, the car's FIA specification...
.
1999–2001
Richard Burns
Richard Alexander Burns was an English rally driver. He was born in Reading, Berkshire. He was the 2001 World Rally Champion, having previously finished runner-up in the series in 1999 and 2000. He also helped Mitsubishi to the world manufacturers' title in 1998, and Peugeot in 2002...
/Robert Reid
Robert Reid (co-driver)
Robert Reid is a Scottish rally and motorsport personality. He was born in Perth, Scotland.-Career:During his career Reid has sat alongside many notable drivers including Robbie Head, Colin and Alister McRae but he is by far best known for his long and successful partnership with Richard Burns,...
, Juha Kankkunen
Juha Kankkunen
Juha Matti Pellervo Kankkunen is a Finnish former rally driver. His factory team career in the World Rally Championship lasted from 1983 to 2002. He won 23 world rallies and four drivers' world championship titles, which were both once records in the series...
/Juha Repo, and third team of Bruno Thiry
Bruno Thiry
Bruno Thiry is a Belgian rally driver. He was born in St. Vith, Province of Liège.He began his career as an amateur in 1981, driving a Simca, and quickly became very successful in the Belgian Rally Championship. In 1994, he joined the Ford team to contest the World Rally Championship, driving a...
/Stéphane Prévot. The new car, the WRC99, featured an electronically controlled semi-automatic transmission
Semi-automatic transmission
A semi-automatic transmission is an automobile transmission that does not change gears automatically, but rather facilitates manual gear changes by dispensing with the need to press...
with a drive-by-wire throttle. Due to technical difficulties, the team struggled until the season's 7th round in Argentina. From there on, the teams earned the podium in seven out of eight events, with five wins, three of which were 1–2 finishes. Subaru finished second in the Manufacturers’ Championship, just four points behind Toyota. Burns scored victories in Greece, Australia, and Wales, for second place and Kankkunen took fourth in the Drivers’ Championship, with wins in Argentina and Finland.
Burns and Kankkunen continued to drive for Subaru for the 2000 season, with Petter Solberg
Petter Solberg
Petter "Hollywood" Solberg , from Spydeberg in Østfold, Norway, is a professional rally driver. He debuted in the World Rally Championship in 1998 and was signed by the Ford factory team in 1999...
joining the team halfway through the season, driving in the Rallye de France. The team finished third in the championship, and Burns took second in the Drivers' Championship for the second year in a row.
Burns and Solberg composed Subaru's nominated line-up for the 2001 season with Markko Märtin
Markko Märtin
Markko Märtin is a rally driver from Estonia, who competed in the World Rally Championship from 2000 until 2005.-Career:...
/Michael Park
Michael Park (co-driver)
Michael Park was a rally co-driver from Newent in Gloucestershire.One of the top co-drivers of his generation, Park died as a result of injuries sustained in an accident on the final leg of Wales Rally Great Britain when his Peugeot 307 WRC left the road and struck a tree...
and Toshi Arai
Toshi Arai
is a Japanese rally driver and team owner. He made his debut in 1987, and drove for the Subaru World Rally Team in the Group N World Rally Championship from 1997–2000 and 2002–2003, and the Group A Championship in 2000–2001....
/Tony Sircombe competing in selected events. Subaru again won the Driver's Championships in 2001 with Richard Burns
Richard Burns
Richard Alexander Burns was an English rally driver. He was born in Reading, Berkshire. He was the 2001 World Rally Champion, having previously finished runner-up in the series in 1999 and 2000. He also helped Mitsubishi to the world manufacturers' title in 1998, and Peugeot in 2002...
and co-driver Robert Reid. Burns left Subaru for Peugeot
Peugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
at the end of the 2001 season.
2002–2003
Tommi Mäkinen
"Turbo" Tommi Antero Mäkinen , tied with Juha Kankkunen and behind Sébastien Loeb , and fifth in wins .He is a four-time World Rally Champion, a series he first won, and then successfully defended, continuously throughout 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999, on all occasions driving the Ralliart Mitsubishi...
and co-driver Kaj Lindström. Petter Solberg continued with the team, and Pasi Hagstrom was the team's test driver. Following the October 2001 signing of four time driver's Championship winner Mäkinen, expectations for the team ran high. However, after a season opening win in Monte Carlo, he was only able to finish five more events during the entire season. His teammate, Solberg fared much better, finishing nine events, five of which were podium finishes, including his first ever WRC win, at Rally Great Britain, the season's last round. The win propelled him past Ford's Carlos Sainz into second in the Drivers' Championship.
For the 2003 season, the driver line-up remained unchanged from the previous year. Solberg drove the #7 car, Mäkinen the #8 car. The season got off to a poor start, with neither driver finishing the Rallye Monte Carlo. Solberg then scored four outright wins, in Cyprus, Australia, France, and finished the season with his second straight win in Britain, securing him the Driver's Championship for himself and co-driver Phil Mills
Phil Mills
Phil Mills is a Welsh rally racing co-driver. He was winner of the 2003 World Rally Championship , as co-driver to Petter Solberg....
, narrowly beating Sebastian Loeb by one point. The team only managed to achieve third place in the manufacturers' championship, beaten by Citroen and Peugeot. At the end of the season, Tommi Mäkinen retired from the WRC.
2004–2005
Mikko Hirvonen
Mikko Hirvonen is a Finnish rally driver currently driving for the Citroën Total World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship. He placed third in the drivers' championship and helped Ford to the manufacturers' title in both 2006 and 2007. In 2008, 2009 and 2011, he finished runner-up to...
and his co-driver Jarmo Lehtinen. Subaru managed to consolidate third place in the Manufacturer's Championship again, while Solberg was second in the Driver's Championship, winning five of the season's rallies: New Zealand, Greece, Japan, Italy and a third consecutive win at Rally Wales. Hirvonen ended the season in seventh place, failing to impress the Subaru team management. He was not re-signed for the 2005 season.
In 2005, Petter Solberg
Petter Solberg
Petter "Hollywood" Solberg , from Spydeberg in Østfold, Norway, is a professional rally driver. He debuted in the World Rally Championship in 1998 and was signed by the Ford factory team in 1999...
again led the team in the #5 car, while Hirvonen was replaced by Chris Atkinson
Chris Atkinson
Chris Atkinson in Bega, New South Wales, Australia) is a professional rally driver. In the WRC , he drove for the Subaru World Rally Team from 2004-2008. His best finish on an individual WRC event is second, which he achieved at the 2008 Rally México and Rally Argentina...
in the #6 car. The young Australian debuted with the Uddeholm Swedish Rally, and finished third at Rally Japan
Rally Japan
Rally Japan is a rally competition held in Hokkaidō, Japan. The event has been part of the FIA World Rally Championship since its introduction during the 2004 season. From 2004 to 2007, the event was held on the twisty and narrow gravel roads of the Tokachi region near Obihiro. For the 2008 season,...
. Petter Solberg achieved back-to-back victories in Mexico and Sweden, early in the season. He finished the season behind Sébastien Loeb
Sébastien Loeb
Sébastien Loeb is a French rally driver currently driving for the Citroën World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship...
, tied for second place with Marcus Grönholm
Marcus Grönholm
Marcus "Bosse" Grönholm is a Finnish former rally driver. Driving for Peugeot, he won the World Rally Championship in 2000 and 2002. After Peugeot withdrew from the World Rally Championship, Grönholm moved to Ford for the 2006 season and placed second in the drivers' world championship, losing the...
. In the Manufacturer's championship, Subaru only managed to finish fourth overall, ahead of Mitsubishi and Skoda.
2006
Chris Atkinson
Chris Atkinson in Bega, New South Wales, Australia) is a professional rally driver. In the WRC , he drove for the Subaru World Rally Team from 2004-2008. His best finish on an individual WRC event is second, which he achieved at the 2008 Rally México and Rally Argentina...
and co-driver Glenn MacNeall on gravel
Gravel
Gravel is composed of unconsolidated rock fragments that have a general particle size range and include size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments. Gravel can be sub-categorized into granule and cobble...
events, while on tarmac
Tarmac
Tarmac is a type of road surface. Tarmac refers to a material patented by Edgar Purnell Hooley in 1901...
events, it was driven by ex-Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
driver Stéphane Sarrazin
Stéphane Sarrazin
Stéphane Sarrazin is a Peugeot factory racing driver from France. He participated in 1 Formula One Grand Prix for Minardi, debuting on April 11, 1999 at the Brazilian Grand Prix. He was a replacement for Luca Badoer, who had injured his wrist. He suffered a big spin in the race coming up to the...
. The WRC2006 had several changes from the previous year's car due to rule changes which banned active differentials as well as water injection
Water injection (engines)
In internal combustion engines, water injection, also known as anti-detonant injection, is spraying water into the cylinder or incoming fuel-air mixture to cool the combustion chambers of the engine, allowing for greater compression ratios and largely eliminating the problem of engine knocking...
, as well as mandating that teams must re-use cars and engines on selected ‘pairs’ of events. Due to the rule changes, the car was introduced on the first round of the season.
Subaru's season got off to a poor start, with Solberg unable to score in the first two rallies due to mechanical failures. Due to the teams lacklustre performance, after a decade of running the team, team boss David Lapworth was replaced by Paul Howarth. Not until the third rally of the season, Rally Mexico, would Petter manage to score, achieving a second place finish. He picked up another second place finish at Rally Argentina
Rally Argentina
The Rally Argentina is an Argentine rally competition that has been both a round of the World Rally Championship and also the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. The rally is also a round of the South American Rally Championship and the Argentine Rally Championship...
, and again at Rally Australia. The team finished the season in third place in the manufacturer's championship, while Solberg finished in sixth place in the driver's championship. However, the team was not able to achieve a single win, and achieved podium results only four times. Subaru's 2006 season was characterized as disappointing, and was the subject of a Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
series called Engineering the World Rally. In the programme, Subaru's dismal season was described as 'The Season from Hell'.
2007
2007 World Rally Championship season
The 2007 World Rally Championship season was the 35th season in the FIA World Rally Championship. The season began on January 19 with the 75ème Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo and ended on December 2 with the 63rd Wales Rally of Great Britain. Citroën's Sébastien Loeb won the drivers' world...
, driving the #7 Impreza. Sarrazin left the team, leaving Chris Atkinson as the single number two driver, piloting the #8 car. Atkinson managed to grab fourth place at the season opening event in Monte Carlo, after passing the works Ford of Mikko Hirvonen
Mikko Hirvonen
Mikko Hirvonen is a Finnish rally driver currently driving for the Citroën Total World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship. He placed third in the drivers' championship and helped Ford to the manufacturers' title in both 2006 and 2007. In 2008, 2009 and 2011, he finished runner-up to...
. At the 2007 Rally Portugal
2007 Rally Portugal
The 2007 Vodafone Rally de Portugal was the 41st Rally de Portugal and the fifth round of the 2007 World Rally Championship season. It took place between March 30–April 1, 2007 and consisted of 18 special stages...
, Solberg came in second, following the Ford cars' disqualification due to the glass in their rear windows being too thin. Following the rally, Atkinson's co-driver, Glenn MacNeall, elected to leave the team, and was replaced by Stéphane Prévot, who had previously been with the team as co-driver for Bruno Thiry. At the 2007 Acropolis Rally
2007 Acropolis Rally
Results of Acropolis Rally , 8th round of 2007 World Rally Championship, was run on May 31 - June 3:- Results :...
Solberg managed to achieve a podium position.
After the summer break, the team was joined at the 2007 Rally Finland
2007 Rally Finland
Results of Rally Finland , 9th round of 2007 World Rally Championship, run on August 2 - 5:- Results :- Retirements : Kristian Sohlberg - rolled ; Jari-Matti Latvala - went off the road - damaged rollcage ; Manfred Stohl - rolled Gareth Jones - went off the road Juho Hänninen - mehanical...
by Xavier Pons
Xavier Pons
Xavier "Xevi" Pons Puigdillers is a rally driver competing in the World Rally Championship.Pons started his racing career on motorcycles and won the Spanish national enduro championship in 1998. That same year, he competed with the Spanish junior team at the International Six Days Enduro and won...
and co-driver Xavier Amigo, driving a third car, #25, not nominated for manufacturer points. However in the rally, Solberg had to retire on day two, after monstrous handling and steering problems which the team engineers were unable to deal with. Solberg finished fifth in Ireland
2007 Rally Ireland
The 2007 Rally Ireland , 15th round of 2007 World Rally Championship, was run on November 15 - November 18. It took place over eight counties on both sides of the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland...
, calling it "the most difficult rally he has ever done." At the final event of the season, Wales Rally GB
2007 Rally GB
Results of Rally GB , 16th round of 2007 World Rally Championship, run on November 30 - December 2:- Results :...
, Solberg won the battle for fourth with Dani Sordo
Dani Sordo
Daniel "Dani" Sordo Castillo is a Spanish rally driver. He competes in the World Rally Championship for the Mini WRC Team...
, propelling Subaru to third place in the manufacturer's standings. In the driver's championship, Solberg came in 5th, while Atkinson took 7th. Richard Taylor called the season a "poor" one, with Subaru only achieving two podium finishes, and no overall wins for the second year in a row. Phil Mills called it the "second season from hell."
2008
Petter Solberg and Chris Atkinson continue with the team through the 2008 season2008 World Rally Championship season
The 2008 World Rally Championship season was the 36th season of the FIA World Rally Championship. The season consisted of 15 rallies and began on January 24, with the 2008 Monte Carlo Rally....
. Xavier Pons left the team, although there is a possibility that he will return. With the FIA mandated switch to Pirelli
Pirelli
Pirelli & C. SpA is a diverse multinational company based in Milan, Italy. The company, the world’s fifth largest tyre manufacturer, is present in over 160 countries, has 20 manufacturing sites around the world and a network of around 10,000 distributors and retailers.Founded in Milan in 1872,...
tires, tyre mousse has been banned, and fewer compounds are available.
At the first rally of the season, the 2008 Monte Carlo Rally
2008 Monte Carlo Rally
The 2008 Monte Carlo Rally, officially 76ème Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo, was the 76th Monte Carlo Rally and the first round of the 2008 World Rally Championship season...
, Atkinson scored his first podium finish on tarmac
Tarmac
Tarmac is a type of road surface. Tarmac refers to a material patented by Edgar Purnell Hooley in 1901...
, after a close battle with François Duval
François Duval
François Duval is a Belgian rally driver.-1999–2004:With victories in four events Duval won the Belgian Citroën Saxo Challenge title in 1999...
while Solberg finished in fifth. In the 2008 Swedish Rally
2008 Swedish Rally
The 2008 Swedish Rally, officially 57th Uddeholm Swedish Rally, was the second round of 2008 World Rally Championship season. It was the season's first and only event held on snow- and ice-covered gravel roads. The rally took place during February 7–10, beginning with Super Special Stage...
, Solberg finished in fourth place while Atkinson finished in 21st position following a spin on Special Stage 3, which cost him over 15 minutes. Immediately after the Swedish Rally, the team completed a gravel test in Spain, in preparation for Rally Mexico, the last test using the WRC2007 car. At the 2008 Rally Mexico
2008 Rally México
The 2008 Rally México, officially 22º Corona Rally México, was the third round of the 2008 World Rally Championship season. The rally was held on February 29 — March 2 and began with a ceremonial start on Thursday, February 28...
, Atkinson placed second, his best ever result. Solberg was forced to retire on the second day after a driveshaft failure to his front left wheel. He continued under SupeRally rules on Sunday, finishing 12th. Going into the final day of the 2008 Rally Argentina
2008 Rally Argentina
The 2008 Rally Argentina, officially 28º Rally Argentina, is the fourth round of 2008 World Rally Championship season; it is a second gravel round of the championship and also the second round of the Production World Rally Championship...
, Solberg and Atkinson were comfortably in second and third position, poised to put two cars on the podium, a feat Subaru has not accomplished in several years. However, on Special Stage 19, Petter's car suffered an electrical failure, forcing him to retire. Atkinson inherited Solberg's position, and achieved a second place finish for the second consecutive time. At the 2008 Jordan Rally
2008 Jordan Rally
The 2008 Jordan Rally was the fifth round of 2008 World Rally Championship season and the third gravel round of the championship and also the second round of the Junior World Rally Championship. The event began with a ceremonial start on Thursday, April 24 in Amman, Jordan, near the Dead Sea.-...
, on SS6, Solberg's retired after his Impreza suffered from a damper failure, which then spilled oil, lighting a fire under the hood of the car. Solberg restarted under SupeRally rules on Saturday, but crashed on the day's final stage after brake problems. Atkinson managed to secure a third podium in a row, following the suspension failure of Latvala, and the retirements of Solberg and Loeb.
Withdrawal from WRC
Subaru announced it was withdrawing its team from competition, with immediate effect, on 16 December 2008. At the time, it said that "this sudden decision was in response to the widespread economic downturn that is affecting the entire automotive industry", and came one day after competitor SuzukiSuzuki World Rally Team
The Suzuki World Rally Team, also known as the Suzuki WRC Challenge was Suzuki's factory backed World Rally Championship team, as part of the Suzuki Sport organization. The team debuted for the first time at the 2007 Tour de Corse in France...
exited the sport.
Group A Leone, 1980–1989
As Subaru Rally Team Japan, Subaru entered the first World Rally with second generation Group AGroup A
In relation to motorsport governed by the FIA, Group A referred to a set of regulations providing production-derived vehicles for outright competition. In contrast to the short-lived Group B and Group C, the Group A referred to production-derived vehicles limited in terms of power, weight, allowed...
Subaru Leone
Subaru Leone
The Subaru Leone was a compact car produced by the Japanese car manufacturer Fuji Heavy Industries from 1971 to 1994. The word "leone" is Italian for lion....
DL at the 1980 Safari Rally. In 1984 the model was changed to 3rd generation Leone coupé, one year later installed with a turbo. The other model used simultaneously with the coupé turbo until 1989 was the Leone sedan RX Turbo.
Group A Legacy RS, 1989–1993
Prodrive's vehicle development began upon the team's formation in September 1989, creating the Group AGroup A
In relation to motorsport governed by the FIA, Group A referred to a set of regulations providing production-derived vehicles for outright competition. In contrast to the short-lived Group B and Group C, the Group A referred to production-derived vehicles limited in terms of power, weight, allowed...
Subaru Legacy RS rally car, based on the roadgoing Subaru Legacy sedan. The Legacy was powered by a longitudinally mounted boxer engine, giving it a low center of gravity. Already equipped with a symmetrical all wheel drive system, it made a good starting point for a rally car. David Lapworth described the development of the car as a "steep learning curve." The car lacked power and a weak transmission and braking system also hampered the car. To correct its flaws, Prodrive completed a new car, the 1992 Legacy RS, which featured a totally redesigned fuel injection
Fuel injection
Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....
system, during the 1991 season, introduced on the season's last rally. The team campaigned the 1992 Legacy during the first part of the 1993 season, and on its last rally, achieved the car's first and only win.
Group A Impreza GC, 1993–1996
In 1994, the Subaru team switched from Michelin
Michelin
Michelin is a tyre manufacturer based in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne région of France. It is one of the two largest tyre manufacturers in the world along with Bridgestone. In addition to the Michelin brand, it also owns the BFGoodrich, Kleber, Riken, Kormoran and Uniroyal tyre brands...
to Pirelli
Pirelli
Pirelli & C. SpA is a diverse multinational company based in Milan, Italy. The company, the world’s fifth largest tyre manufacturer, is present in over 160 countries, has 20 manufacturing sites around the world and a network of around 10,000 distributors and retailers.Founded in Milan in 1872,...
tires.
For the 1995 season, the FIA mandated more restrictive air intakes in an effort to slow the cars down. Subaru countered this by introducing a new boxer engine with revised camshaft
Camshaft
A camshaft is a shaft to which a cam is fastened or of which a cam forms an integral part.-History:An early cam was built into Hellenistic water-driven automata from the 3rd century BC. The camshaft was later described in Iraq by Al-Jazari in 1206. He employed it as part of his automata,...
s and a different compression ratio
Compression ratio
The 'compression ratio' of an internal-combustion engine or external combustion engine is a value that represents the ratio of the volume of its combustion chamber from its largest capacity to its smallest capacity...
.
World Rally Car Impreza GC, 1997–2001
Group A
In relation to motorsport governed by the FIA, Group A referred to a set of regulations providing production-derived vehicles for outright competition. In contrast to the short-lived Group B and Group C, the Group A referred to production-derived vehicles limited in terms of power, weight, allowed...
formula with a new formula called World Rally Car
World Rally Car
World Rally Car is a term used to describe racing automobiles built to the specification set by the FIA, the international motorsports governing body, and used to compete in the outright class of the World Rally Championship...
. This gave teams greater latitude in design and materials including vehicle width, suspension geometry, aerodynamics, intercooler
Intercooler
An intercooler , or charge air cooler, is an air-to-air or air-to-liquid heat exchange device used on turbocharged and supercharged internal combustion engines to improve their volumetric efficiency by increasing intake air charge density through nearly isobaric cooling, which removes...
capacity and engine modifications. This led to a totally redesigned car, the WRC97, featuring modified camshafts, cylinder ports and combustion chambers. The width of the car increased to 1,770 mm (69.9 in) with a revised suspension geometry. Power increased to 300 hp @ 5500 rpm, and torque was now 347 lb ft.
The Impreza WRC98 was an evolution of the earlier WRC97, with computer controlled active differentials in the front, rear, and center, and an electronic throttle. Mechanical failures were common and took the team out of contention for the title.
The WRC99, introduced at the first round of the championship, featured an electronically controlled, hydraulically actuated semi-automatic transmission
Semi-automatic transmission
A semi-automatic transmission is an automobile transmission that does not change gears automatically, but rather facilitates manual gear changes by dispensing with the need to press...
with a drive-by-wire throttle, allowing the cars to be shifted with steering wheel mounted paddles, similar to F1
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
cars. This allowed the driver to shift gears faster, and reduced the chance of dog gear
Dog (engineering)
In engineering a dog is a tool that prevents movement or imparts movement by offering physical obstruction or engagement of some kind. It may hold another object in place by blocking it, clamping it, or otherwise obstructing its movement...
wear. Due to technical difficulties, the team struggled until the season's 7th round in Argentina. However, the car helped prove much of the technology seen on later cars. Subaru was the first rally team to implement this technology, which is now used on all WRC cars.
Although the WRC2000 looked almost identical to the WRC99, underneath the sheet metal, its execution was radically different. Developed by Prodrive
Prodrive
Prodrive is a British motorsport and automotive engineering group based in Banbury, Oxfordshire, England. It designs, constructs and races cars for companies and teams such as Subaru, Aston Martin and Ford...
engineer Christian Loriaux, the team used the lessons learned from the WRC99 and applied them in the WRC2000's 10 month development, in which over 80% of the car's mechanical and electronic components were redesigned. The car debuted, and drove to victory, at the fourth event of the season, Rally Portugal.
World Rally Car Impreza GD, 2001–2008
The WRC2002 was introduced at Corsica, and looked largely the same as the previous year's car. However, development of the car continued throughout the season. Improvements were made to the driveshaft, transmission housing, and steering column, as well as to the turbo-charger and manifold, which was changed from a 4–2–1 configuration to a 4–1 configuration. Savings found in modified brackets, wiring, and glass reduced weight by 33 lbs.
The WRC2003 was introduced at the 2003 Rallye Monte Carlo. It featured a revised look based on the updated Impreza introduced the previous year. Technical improvements were made to the turbocharger and engine, aiming to increase torque at lower RPMs allowing greater driveability. The car's body shell was made both lighter and stiffer. Throughout the year modifications were made to the car's suspension.
The WRC2004 did not feature many cosmetic changes from the previous year's car, but did have refinements in the engine and body panels. It was introduced at Rally Mexico
Rally Mexico
The Corona Rally Mexico, formerly known as Rally America is a round of the FIA World Rally Championship. The rally entered the championship schedule in the 2004 season. The event's itinerary is based in the state of Guanajuato...
. A revised gearbox was introduced halfway through the season.
The WRC2005 was introduced following 12 months of joint development by Subaru
Subaru
; is the automobile manufacturing division of Japanese transportation conglomerate Fuji Heavy Industries .Subaru is internationally known for their use of the boxer engine layout popularized in cars by the Volkswagen Beetle and Porsche 911, in most of their vehicles above 1500 cc as well as...
and Prodrive
Prodrive
Prodrive is a British motorsport and automotive engineering group based in Banbury, Oxfordshire, England. It designs, constructs and races cars for companies and teams such as Subaru, Aston Martin and Ford...
, on 11 March 2005 at Rally Mexico. Its re-styled bodyshell was stiffer, and 30 mm wider to allow a wider track. The car featured more composite body panels, including front and rear wheel arches and bumpers in order to decrease weight. Engine enhancements included a lightened flywheel and revised IHI turbocharger. Revised water injection
Water injection (engines)
In internal combustion engines, water injection, also known as anti-detonant injection, is spraying water into the cylinder or incoming fuel-air mixture to cool the combustion chambers of the engine, allowing for greater compression ratios and largely eliminating the problem of engine knocking...
and fuel injection
Fuel injection
Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....
systems were also introduced.
The WRC2006 had several changes from the previous year's car due to rule changes which banned active differentials as well as water injection, as well as mandating that teams must re-use cars and engines on selected ‘pairs’ of events. Due to the rule changes, the car was introduced on the first round of the season.
Rally Mexico
The Corona Rally Mexico, formerly known as Rally America is a round of the FIA World Rally Championship. The rally entered the championship schedule in the 2004 season. The event's itinerary is based in the state of Guanajuato...
. It featured new dampers, a different radiator and intercooler arrangement, as well as improved weight distribution, suspension geometry and differential set-ups. It was considered to be underachieving compared to the newly introduced 2007 Focus WRC and the all-new Citroen C4 WRC. The car suffered from extensive handling problems, resulting in Subaru withdrawing from Rally Finland
Rally Finland
The Neste Oil Rally Finland is a rally event driven in the Jyväskylä area in Central Finland. It is the biggest annually organised public event in the Nordic countries, gathering over 500,000 spectators every year....
on the second day of the rally.
Each transmission in the WRC2007 takes 85 hours build, and costs over ₤75,000. The front and rear differentials are similar while the center differential is unique. Each takes around 16 hours to build costs about ₤20,000. The cases for the transmission and differentials are constructed from magnesium to reduce weight. Filled with oil, the transmission weighs 95 kg, and a differential weighs 25 kg. The car's engine, transmission and differential are individually oil sealed, so that they can be removed and replaced without fluid loss. This also helps the team replace the components in 10–12 minutes. The transmission's lubrication system has a 4.5 liter capacity and is includes an oil pump to keep control differential temperatures, which usually operate around 100C. The transmission retains the roadgoing Impreza's H pattern but utilizes a hydraulically actuated and electronically controlled semi-automatic gearshift. The hydraulic gear shift system operates at a pressure of 2,500psi, allowing gear shifts to be completed in less than .1 seconds.
World Rally Car Impreza GE, 2008 – current
In December 2007, Subaru began testing the WRC2008, based on the all new GE chassis Impreza WRX. The 2008 car is expected to benefit from a decreased polar moment of inertia due to smaller overhangs, and also features a double wishbone rear suspensionDouble wishbone suspension
In automobiles, a double wishbone suspension is an independent suspension design using two wishbone-shaped arms to locate the wheel. Each wishbone or arm has two mounting points to the chassis and one joint at the knuckle. The shock absorber and coil spring mount to the wishbones to control...
. In which Prodrive found this inferior, and converted the cars rear suspension, back to the original MacPherson design. However, an updated 2007 car will be used for the first few rallies, with the 2008 car introduced after that. Markko Märtin
Markko Märtin
Markko Märtin is a rally driver from Estonia, who competed in the World Rally Championship from 2000 until 2005.-Career:...
signed a deal to become the official test driver for the Subaru team in 2008, and has thus far done the majority of the testing on the WRC2008.
During a 4 day test at Sardinia between 30 April and 3 May 2008, Petter Solberg and Chris Atkinson drove the WRC2008 for the first time. A date for its debut was still not given.
On 20 May 2008, the Subaru World Rally Team confirmed its new Impreza World Rally Car (WRC2008) will make its WRC debut at the Acropolis Rally of Greece, beginning on the 29th of May. On the cars rally debut, the WRC2008 scored its first podium finish with Petter Solberg placing 2nd in the Acropolis Rally.
Vehicle Preparation
Before each rally, each bodyshell is completely rebuilt. In 1993, each bodyshell rebuild took 160 hours. In 2003 it took 650 man hours. In 2006 it took 780 hours.Technical personnel
Graham Moore is the overall chief engineer. Moore was a member of the team from 1991–2002, and then rejoined the team in 2006. Jonathan Carey is the chief engineer for Petter SolbergPetter Solberg
Petter "Hollywood" Solberg , from Spydeberg in Østfold, Norway, is a professional rally driver. He debuted in the World Rally Championship in 1998 and was signed by the Ford factory team in 1999...
and Richard Thompson is the chief engineer for Chris Atkinson
Chris Atkinson
Chris Atkinson in Bega, New South Wales, Australia) is a professional rally driver. In the WRC , he drove for the Subaru World Rally Team from 2004-2008. His best finish on an individual WRC event is second, which he achieved at the 2008 Rally México and Rally Argentina...
. Chris Wattam is the chief mechanic.
See also
- David RichardsDavid Richards (racing)David Pender Richards CBE is the chairman of Prodrive and Aston Martin, and a former team principal of the BAR and Benetton Formula One motor racing teams. He lives with his wife, Karen, in Warwickshire and has three children....
- BP Ford World Rally TeamBP Ford World Rally TeamThe Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team, also known as the Ford Motor Co. Team prior to 2005, is Ford Motor Company's full factory World Rally Championship team. In its current form, it has been a competitor since the 1997 season, when Ford Motor Company's motorsport arm selected the Malcolm Wilson...
- Suzuki World Rally TeamSuzuki World Rally TeamThe Suzuki World Rally Team, also known as the Suzuki WRC Challenge was Suzuki's factory backed World Rally Championship team, as part of the Suzuki Sport organization. The team debuted for the first time at the 2007 Tour de Corse in France...
- Citroën Total World Rally TeamCitroën Total World Rally TeamThe Citroën Total World Rally Team is the Citroën factory backed entry into the World Rally Championship, run by Citroën Racing.-Management:* Olivier Quesnel – team director* Xavier Mestelan-Pinon – technical director-1990-1998 Seasons:...
- Video of Subaru Legacy WRC