Subaru has a rich motorsports history that dates back to the 1960s. The Japanese automaker has competed in various forms of motorsports, including rallying, touring car racing, and endurance racing. Here is a brief overview of Subaru’s motorsports history:
Rallying: Subaru is best known for its success in rallying. The company started competing in rallying in the late 1960s, and by the 1990s, had established itself as one of the top teams in the world. Subaru’s rally cars were known for their distinctive blue and yellow livery and their signature boxer engines. In 1995, Subaru won its first World Rally Championship (WRC) manufacturer’s title, and followed up with additional titles in 1996, 1997, and 1998. Subaru’s most successful driver was Colin McRae, who won the driver’s championship in 1995.
Subaru has a long and successful history in rallying, and has achieved many milestones and successes in the sport. Here are some of the key moments in Subaru’s rallying history:
1972 – Subaru entered its first rally, the Southern Cross Rally in Australia, with a Subaru Leone 1400.
1980 – Subaru entered the World Rally Championship (WRC) for the first time with a Subaru Leone. The car was driven by Ari Vatanen, who finished third in the Acropolis Rally.
1989 – Subaru introduced the Legacy RS, a turbocharged four-wheel drive sedan designed specifically for rallying.
1990 – Subaru won its first World Rally Championship event, the Rally New Zealand, with driver Possum Bourne.
1993 – Colin McRae joined the Subaru team and helped to develop the Impreza WRX rally car. McRae won his first WRC event with Subaru, the Rally New Zealand.
1995 – Subaru won its first WRC manufacturer’s title, with Carlos Sainz finishing as the driver’s champion.
1996 – Subaru defended its WRC titles, winning both the manufacturer’s and driver’s championships. Colin McRae won the driver’s championship.
1997 – Subaru won its third consecutive WRC manufacturer’s title, and Tommi Makinen won the driver’s championship.
1998 – Subaru won its fourth consecutive WRC manufacturer’s title, with Makinen again winning the driver’s championship.
2001 – Richard Burns won the driver’s championship, becoming the first British driver to win the title.
2003 – Subaru introduced the Impreza WRX STI, a high-performance version of the Impreza WRX designed for rallying.
2006 – Subaru won its third and final WRC manufacturer’s title, with Petter Solberg finishing as the driver’s champion.
In addition to its successes in the WRC, Subaru has also had success in other forms of rallying, including the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) and the Rally America series. The company’s vehicles have been popular among amateur rally enthusiasts, and Subaru has supported these activities through its Subaru Rally Team USA program.
Overall, Subaru’s rallying history is characterised by its dedication to innovation and performance, and its ability to compete at the highest levels of the sport. Subaru’s success in rallying has helped to shape its brand identity and has contributed to the development of its high-performance vehicles.
Touring Car Racing: Subaru has also competed in touring car racing. In the early 1990s, the company entered the Japanese Touring Car Championship (JTCC) with its Impreza WRX. In 1996, Subaru won the JTCC manufacturer’s title, and the following year, won the driver’s championship with Toshio Suzuki.
Endurance Racing: Subaru has also competed in endurance racing, including the 24 Hours of Nurburgring and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 1990, Subaru entered a Legacy RS in the Nurburgring race, and finished third in its class. In 2004, Subaru entered a prototype car in the Le Mans race, but was forced to retire due to engine problems.
In addition to its factory-backed motorsports efforts, Subaru has also had success in grassroots motorsports. The company’s vehicles are popular among amateur rally and autocross enthusiasts, and Subaru has supported these activities through its Subaru Rally Team USA program.
Overall, Subaru’s motorsports history is characterised by its success in rallying and its dedication to performance and innovation. The company’s commitment to motorsports has helped to shape its brand identity and has contributed to the development of its high-performance vehicles.
Kris is the founder of 86modified.com and has a love for cars and modifying them. He has owned many different Japanese cars and has enjoyed installing modifications to get more power or fitting body parts to change the aesthetics.
Leave a Reply