Subaru’s long and exciting past with rally car racing is the stuff of legend. Read on to learn more about Subaru’s rally car racing history and how it makes your Subaru more fun to drive.
What is The Connection Between Subaru and Rally Car Racing?
Anyone who follows motorsports knows that Subaru has been a trendsetter and a champion in rally car racing for decades, ever since it revolutionized the sport by entering an all-wheel drive car in the World Rally Championship in 1980. The Subaru World Rally Team went on to win six World Rally Championship titles during the time it participated in the WRC from 1980 to 2008, and the Impreza won a record 46 rallies. In the United States rally car racing circuit, Subaru Rally Team USA has won over 100 rallies since its inception in 2001.
Does Subaru Still have a Rally Car Team?
Although The Subaru World Rally Team retired from rally car racing in 2008 after the longest run of any manufacturer in the WRC, Subaru Rally Team USA is active and straight-up dominating the sport. Subaru Rally Team USA has won 13 of the last 14 U.S. Rally America National Championships, and Travis Pastrana of Subaru Rally Team USA just won the 2021 Olympus Rally, making it the third consecutive rally win for the team this season.
What Traits Do Current Subaru Models Take from Rally Cars?
It might seem like a contradiction: the Subarus you see on the street are often practical vehicles lauded for safety and practicality. And yet, Subaru rally car racing history is full of turbocharged engines made for extreme conditions. The interesting thing about this is that Subaru’s rally car racing makes their everyday cars better and Subaru’s everyday cars make their rally cars better. For example, Subaru’s WRX and WRX STI models carry the trademark Boxer engines which power the rally car racing vehicles to victory, as well as a stiffer chassis, faster steering, and Pembro brakes on the STI.
Did Symmetrical All Wheel Drive Technology Come from Rally Cars?
Although you might think that the symmetrical all wheel drive technology (SAWD) that has been instrumental to Subaru’s wild success in rally car racing originated in rally vehicles, that is not the case. Subaru first introduced SAWD in 1972 as a part-time optional feature in family-friendly vehicles that needed some extra traction. But when Subaru paired SAWD with a powerful engine and other racing specs on the Subaru Leone in 1980 and entered it in the World Rally Championship, the sport of rally car racing was changed forever and the legend of the SAWD was born. Other rally car racing manufacturers responded by producing their own SAWD vehicles, but Subaru continues to redefine and improve the technology they pioneered for both their rally cars and everyday vehicles in a way that no other car manufacturer has been able to duplicate.
Are Subaru Boxer Engines Used in Rally Cars?
When it comes to rally car racing, you need a powerhouse under the hood, and the Subaru boxer engine fits the bill. Subaru’s winning rallycross vehicle, the WRX STI VT19x Rally Supercar, is powered by a custom-built Subaru Boxer engine with over 600 horsepower which takes the car from 0-60 mph in just 2 seconds. The Gymkhana 2020 WRX STI used by Travis Pastrana carries a 2.3-liter billet Subaru Boxer engine that produces an astounding 862 horsepower. With these engines, it is no wonder Subaru keeps breaking records in the world of rally car racing!
What do WRX and STI Mean?
WRX stands for World Rally eXperimental, while STI stands for Subaru Tecnica International, the dedicated motorsports division of Subaru. These acronyms represent Subaru’s commitment and legacy in rally car racing, and when you see them on a vehicle, you know you are getting something special. The WRX and WRX STI models that are available to everyday consumers are designed to be like their rally car racing counterparts (albeit with some practical differences). Purchase an WRX and get all the power and excitement of a 2-liter turbocharged Boxer engine with 268 horsepower. Make it an WRX STI and that becomes a 2.5-liter Boxer with 310 horsepower, Brembo brakes, and a stiffer chassis for incredible handling on the curves and lightning fast steering response.
Find Vehicles with Rally Car Horsepower at Rafferty Subaru!
You don’t need to be a rally car racing champion to enjoy the benefits of Subaru’s stellar engineering. The features that drive the success of the legendary rally car racing vehicles, like symmetrical all wheel drive, a Subaru Boxer engine, and a performance drivetrain, are available for your driving pleasure. Contact Rafferty Subaru to schedule a test drive and see why driving a Subaru is a little taste of the rally that you can have every day.
