Subaru World Rally Team

Subaru
Full nameSubaru World Rally Team
BaseEngland Banbury, England
Team principal(s)David Richards[1]
Technical directorRichard Taylor[1]
DriversNorway Petter Solberg
Australia Chris Atkinson
Co-driversUnited Kingdom Phil Mills
Belgium Stéphane Prévot
ChassisSubaru Legacy
Subaru Impreza
TyresPirelli
World Rally Championship history
Debut1990 Safari Rally
Last event2008 Wales Rally GB
Manufacturers' Championships3 (1995, 1996, 1997)
Drivers' Championships3 (1995, 2001, 2003)
Rally wins46

The Subaru World Rally Team (SWRT) was Subaru's World Rally Championship (WRC) team. It used a distinctive blue with yellow colour scheme that is a throwback to the sponsorship deal with State Express 555, a BAT cigarette brand popular in Asia.[2] 555 logos were found on Subaru cars from 1993 to 2003,[2] although less prevalent since 1999 due to BAT's participation in Formula One with British American Racing. Subaru's WRC efforts date back to 1980, however, in 1989 British firm Prodrive took over its operations, and its base moved from Japan to Banbury, England.[2][3]

Subaru used the team to showcase its symmetrical all wheel drive technology.[4] 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.[5][6][7]

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.[1] Paul Howarth was the team's operations director and team manager. He replaced David Lapworth in 2006.[1][8][9] Richard Taylor was the team's managing director.[1]

The team was a strong one, competing at the top of the WRC for over a decade. It won the manufacturers' championship three times in 1995, 1996, and 1997, and the drivers' championship three times, in 1995, 2001, and 2003. Its Impreza model won a record 46 rallies.[10] The team withdrew from WRC competition at the end of the 2008 season due to widespread economic downturn.[11]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Team Profiles". Subaru World Rally Team. Archived from the original on 23 January 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2008.
  2. ^ a b c "Subaru Manufacturer Profile & Rally History". Rallye-Info.com. Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  3. ^ "Subaru in International Rallying 1990–1992 Years of Legacy". Drive Performance Magazine. Archived from the original on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2008.
  4. ^ Rettie, John. "Prodrive – Mecca for WRX Fans". drive. Subaru.com. Drive – The Magazine from Subaru. Archived from the original on 3 April 2007. Retrieved 22 March 2008.
  5. ^ "Introducing the Impreza". Subaru World Rally Team. Retrieved 1 April 2008. [dead link]
  6. ^ "About Subaru". Subaru World Rally Team. Archived from the original on 15 February 2008. Retrieved 22 March 2008.
  7. ^ David Lapworth (11 June 2002). Subaru Impreza Story (Documentary). Duke. Event occurs at 12:30.
  8. ^ "Engineering the World Rally: Episode Guide". The Discovery Channel. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  9. ^ "WRC: Subaru: Work with new car going well". Crash.net. 14 January 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2008.
  10. ^ "Top 10 Greatest World Rally Championship Cars of All Time". SnapLap. 13 August 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  11. ^ "Subaru to withdraw from World Rally Championship". Swrt.com. 16 December 2008. Archived from the original on 17 December 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2008.