 | |||||||||
| Category | Group A,World Rally Car | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Subaru Tecnica International,Prodrive | ||||||||
| Designer | Peter Stevens of WRC'97 | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Subaru Legacy RS | ||||||||
| Technical specifications[1] | |||||||||
| Length |
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| Width |
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| Height |
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| Axle track |
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| Wheelbase |
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| Engine | EJ20G EJ207 1,994 cc (121.7 cu in)F4turbocharged Front transverselongitudinal | ||||||||
| Transmission | Six-speed (Sequential after1999) 4-wheel drive | ||||||||
| Weight |
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| Lubricants | Motul | ||||||||
| Tyres | |||||||||
| Competition history (WRC) | |||||||||
| Notable entrants |  Subaru World Rally Team | ||||||||
| Notable drivers | |||||||||
| Debut |  1993 Rally Finland | ||||||||
| First win |  1994 Acropolis Rally | ||||||||
| Last win |  2005 Rally GB | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Constructors' Championships | 3 (1995,1996,1997) | ||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 3 (1995,2001,2003) | ||||||||
TheSubaru Impreza WRC is aWorld Rally Car based on theSubaru Impreza road car. It was used bySubaru World Rally Team, Subaru's factory team, and replaced theSubaru Legacy RS in1993. The car was debuted at 1993 Rally Finland and won a total of six world rally titles, including three consecutive manufacturers' titles and three drivers' titles.
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 featuredactive differentials, a first for a rally car.[2] At the1000 Lakes Rally, Subaru debuted their new Prodrive developedImpreza derived Group A rally car, driven by Vatanen and Alén.[3][4] Vatanen drove the car to second place on its debut.
In 1994, the Subaru team switched fromMichelin toPirelli tires.[5]
For the1995 season, the FIA mandated more restrictive air intakes in an effort to slow the cars down.[6] Subaru countered this by introducing a newboxer engine with revisedcamshafts and a differentcompression ratio.[6]
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For1997, theFIA replaced theGroup A formula with a new formula calledWorld Rally Car. This gave teams greater latitude in design and materials including vehicle width,suspension geometry, aerodynamics,intercooler capacity and engine modifications.[7] This led to a totally redesigned car, theWRC97, featuring modified camshafts, cylinder ports and combustion chambers.[7] The new body had two doors. The width of the car increased to 1,770 mm (69.9 in) with a revised suspension geometry.[7] Power increased to 224 kW (300 hp) @ 5500 rpm, and torque was now 470 N⋅m (347 lb⋅ft).[7]
The ImprezaWRC98 was an evolution of the earlier WRC97, with computer controlledactive differentials in the front, rear, and centre, and anelectronic throttle.[7] Mechanical failures were common and took the team out of contention for the title.[7]
TheWRC99, introduced at the first round of the championship, featured an electronically controlled, hydraulically actuatedsemi-automatic transmission with adrive-by-wire throttle, allowing the cars to be shifted with steering wheel mounted paddles, similar toF1 cars.[8] This allowed the driver to shift gears faster, and reduced the chance ofdog gear wear. Due to technical difficulties, the team struggled until the season's 7th round in Argentina.[9] However, the car helped prove much of the technology seen on later cars. Subaru was the first rally team to implement this technology, which has been used on all WRC cars until it was forbidden by the 2011 championship rules.
Although theWRC2000 looked almost identical to the WRC99, underneath the sheet metal, its execution was radically different. Developed byProdrive 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.[10][11] The car debuted, and drove to victory, at the fourth event of the season,Rally Portugal.[10]
TheWRC2001 featured an entirely new look, based on theGD chassis Impreza WRX.[12][13] The new body had four doors (instead of two), and featured revised aerodynamics, improved weight distribution, and a lower centre of gravity.[14] However, all the mechanical development from the previous year, including the engine, suspension, and drivetrain remained, with subtle refinements.[14]
TheWRC2002 was introduced at Corsica, and looked largely the same as the previous year's car.[15] However, development of the car continued throughout the season.[15] 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.[15] Savings found in modified brackets, wiring, and glass reduced weight by 15 kg (33 lb).[15]
TheWRC2003 was introduced at the 2003 Rallye Monte Carlo.[16] It featured a revised look based on the updated Impreza production car introduced the previous year, with the "bugeye" headlamps replaced by the "blobeye" lamps.[16] Technical improvements were made to the turbocharger and engine, aiming to increase torque at lower RPMs allowing greater driveability.[17][16] The car's body shell was made both lighter and stiffer.[17][16] Throughout the year modifications were made to the car's suspension.[17]
TheWRC2004 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 atRally Mexico.[18] A revised gearbox was introduced halfway through the season.[8]
TheWRC2005 was introduced following 12 months of joint development bySubaru andProdrive, on 11 March 2005 at Rally Mexico.[19] Its re-styled bodyshell was stiffer, and 30 mm wider to allow a wider track.[19] The car featured more composite body panels, including front and rear wheel arches and bumpers in order to decrease weight.[19] Engine enhancements included a lightened flywheel and revised IHI turbocharger.[19] Revisedwater injection andfuel injection systems were also introduced.[20][19]
TheWRC2006 received the production car's second facelift with the "hawk eye" headlamps. It had several mechanical changes from the previous year's car due to rule changes which bannedactive differentials as well as water injection, as well as mandating that teams must re-use cars and engines on selected ‘pairs’ of events.[21][22] Due to the rule changes, the car was introduced on the first round of the season.[23][21]
TheWRC2007, a revised version of the earlier year's car, was introduced at the fourth round of the championship,Rally México. It featured new dampers, a different radiator and intercooler arrangement, as well as improved weight distribution, suspension geometry and differential set-ups.[20] It was considered to be underachieving compared to the newly introduced 2007 Focus WRC and the all-new Citroen C4 WRC.[24] The car suffered from extensive handling problems, resulting in Subaru withdrawing fromRally Finland on the second day of the rally.[25][26]
Each transmission in the WRC2007 takes 85 hours to build, and costs over £75,000.[27] The front and rear differentials are similar while the centre differential is unique.[27] Each takes around 16 hours to build and costs about £20,000.[27] The cases for the transmission and differentials are constructed from magnesium to reduce weight.[27] Filled with oil, the transmission weighs 95 kg, and a differential weighs 25 kg.[27] The car's engine, transmission and differential are individually oil sealed, so that they can be removed and replaced without fluid loss.[27] This also helps the team replace the components in 10–12 minutes. The transmission's lubrication system has a 4.5 litre capacity and includes an oil pump to help control differential temperatures, which usually operate around 100C.[27] The transmission retains the roadgoing Impreza's H pattern but utilizes a hydraulically actuated and electronically controlled semi-automatic gearshift.[27] The hydraulic gear shift system operates at a pressure of 17 MPa (2,500 psi), allowing gear shifts to be completed in less than 0.1 seconds.[27]
In December 2007, Subaru began testing theWRC2008, based on the all newGR chassis Impreza WRX.[28] The 2008 car was expected to benefit from a decreased polar moment of inertia due to smaller overhangs, and also featured adouble wishbone rear suspension. Prodrive deemed this configuration to be suboptimal and reverted the rear suspension to the original MacPherson design. An enhanced version of the 2007 car was utilized in the initial rallies, while preparations for the 2008 model were underway for competition. In 2008, Markko Märtin entered into an agreement to serve as the official test driver for the Subaru team, undertaking the majority of the testing for 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.[29]On 20 May 2008, the Subaru World Rally Team confirmed the WRC2008 would make its WRC debut at the Acropolis Rally of Greece, beginning on 29 May. On the car's rally debut, the WRC2008 scored its first podium finish with Petter Solberg placing 2nd in the Acropolis Rally.[30]
Chris Atkinson's third place two rallies later atRally Finland was the final WRC podium finish for the car and theSubaru World Rally Team, which withdrew from the championship at the end of 2008 during the2008 financial crisis.[31]
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Autosport Rally Car of the Year 1994–1997 | Succeeded by |
