Friday, March 11, 2011

Subaru World Rally Team Short History

Started in 1953. Five companies merged to form Fuji Heavy Industries and adopting the name "Subaru".

 Parent company is Fuji Heavy Industries and the present partial partnership is Toyota motor corporation.

SUBARU means "United" in Japanese.

Subaru rally team first started since 1980 by STI group from Japan and competing in Afrika safari rally and the 1st car model was Subaru Leone ( 1980 to 1989 ).

The next model rally car was Subaru Legacy RS ( 1989 to 1993 ).


Then later they replaced by a smaller and light weight chassic which is the "Impreza".

Subaru team up with British famous motorsport team "Prodrive" leading by David Richards ( Founder and Chairman ) of the company.

Their joint venture started in 1989 in the world rally competition and with aggresive performances and debut in 1993. 

Famous Drivers who partners and bring championships to Subaru World rally Team are :
  • Ari Vatanen   
  • Colin Mcrae
  • Carlo Sainz
  • Richard Burns
  • Tommi Makinen
  • Petter Solberg
  • Stephen Sarrazin
  • Chris Atkinson  
 
The Impreza model brings Subaru three consecutive WRC constructor title from 1995 , 1996 and 1997 and driver championship in 1995 , 2001 and 2003.

 Since 2007 the car facing never ending mechanical problems in almost every rally.

 On the 16th December 2008 , Subaru annouced it's redraw from the WRC events due to the global financial crisis.

However , the Subaru team of  USA  is still competing in Rally America National Championship and there are also a few team utilize Subaru model in the inter continental rally in europe.( IRC )   



 The Six stars symbolize the six company which form Subaru and if we go back behind of the history of this logo is related to the ancient Greek mythology of the Taurus constellation of this stars formation.

I certainly hope that Subaru World Rally Team will come back in the near future and let it shines again.