Vehicle development Subaru World Rally Team

1 vehicle development

1.1 group leone, 1980–1989
1.2 group legacy rs, 1989–1993
1.3 group impreza gc, 1993–1996
1.4 world rally car impreza gc, 1997–2001
1.5 world rally car impreza gd, 2001–2008
1.6 world rally car impreza ge, 2008
1.7 vehicle preparation

vehicle development
group leone, 1980–1989

as subaru rally team japan, subaru entered first world rally second generation group subaru leone dl @ 1980 safari rally. in 1984 model changed 3rd generation leone coupé, 1 year later installed turbo. other model used simultaneously coupé turbo until 1989 leone sedan rx turbo.

group legacy rs, 1989–1993

prodrive s vehicle development began upon team s formation in september 1989, creating group subaru legacy rs rally car, based on road going subaru legacy sedan. legacy powered longitudinally mounted boxer engine, giving low centre of gravity. equipped symmetrical wheel drive system, made starting point rally car. david lapworth described development of car steep learning curve. car lacked power , weak transmission , braking system hampered car. correct flaws, prodrive completed new car, 1992 legacy rs, featured totally redesigned fuel injection system, during 1991 season, introduced on season s last rally. team campaigned 1992 legacy during first part of 1993 season, , on last rally, achieved car s first , win.

group impreza gc, 1993–1996

colin mcrae s 1995 group impreza 555

for 1993, prodrive recognized smaller, nimbler car make better platform rally car, , work on group impreza rally car began. 160 mm shorter in overall length 60 mm shorter wheelbase, having more neutral front/rear weight ratio. featured active differentials, first rally car. @ 1000 lakes rally, subaru debuted new prodrive developed impreza derived group rally car, driven vatanen , alén. vatanen drove car second place on debut.

in 1994, subaru team switched michelin pirelli tires.

for 1995 season, fia mandated more restrictive air intakes in effort slow cars down. subaru countered introducing new boxer engine revised camshafts , different compression ratio.

world rally car impreza gc, 1997–2001

the first prodrive wrc car 1997

for 1997, fia replaced group formula new formula called world rally car. gave teams greater latitude in design , materials including vehicle width, suspension geometry, aerodynamics, intercooler capacity , engine modifications. led totally redesigned car, wrc97, featuring modified camshafts, cylinder ports , combustion chambers. new body had 2 doors. width of car increased 1,770 mm (69.9 in) revised suspension geometry. power increased 300 hp @ 5500 rpm, , torque 347 lb ft.

the impreza wrc98 evolution of earlier wrc97, computer controlled active differentials in front, rear, , centre, , electronic throttle. mechanical failures common , took team out of contention title.

the wrc99, introduced @ first round of championship, featured electronically controlled, hydraulically actuated semi-automatic transmission drive-by-wire throttle, allowing cars shifted steering wheel mounted paddles, similar f1 cars. allowed driver shift gears faster, , reduced chance of dog gear wear. due technical difficulties, team struggled until season s 7th round in argentina. however, car helped prove of technology seen on later cars. subaru first rally team implement technology, has been used on wrc cars until forbidden 2011 championship rules.

although wrc2000 looked identical wrc99, underneath sheet metal, execution radically different. developed prodrive engineer christian loriaux, team used lessons learned wrc99 , applied them in wrc2000 s 10-month development, in on 80% of car s mechanical , electronic components redesigned. car debuted, , drove victory, @ fourth event of season, rally portugal.

world rally car impreza gd, 2001–2008

wrc2001

the wrc2001 featured entirely new look, based on gd chassis impreza wrx. new body had 4 doors (instead of two), , featured revised aerodynamics, improved weight distribution, , lower centre of gravity. however, mechanical development previous year, including engine, suspension, , drivetrain remained, subtle refinements.

the wrc2002 introduced @ corsica, , looked largely same previous year s car. however, development of car continued throughout season. improvements made driveshaft, transmission housing, , steering column, turbo-charger , manifold, changed 4–2–1 configuration 4–1 configuration. savings found in modified brackets, wiring, , glass reduced weight 33 lbs.

the wrc2003 introduced @ 2003 rallye monte carlo. featured revised based on updated impreza introduced previous year. technical improvements made turbocharger , engine, aiming increase torque @ lower rpms allowing greater driveability. car s body shell made both lighter , stiffer. throughout year modifications made car s suspension.

the wrc2004 did not feature many cosmetic changes previous year s car, did have refinements in engine , body panels. introduced @ rally mexico. revised gearbox introduced halfway through season.

the wrc2005 introduced following 12 months of joint development subaru , prodrive, on 11 march 2005 @ rally mexico. re-styled bodyshell stiffer, , 30 mm wider allow wider track. car featured more composite body panels, including front , rear wheel arches , bumpers in order decrease weight. engine enhancements included lightened flywheel , revised ihi turbocharger. revised water injection , fuel injection systems introduced.

the wrc2006 had several changes previous year s car due rule changes banned active differentials water injection, mandating teams must re-use cars , engines on selected ‘pairs’ of events. due rule changes, car introduced on first round of season.

solberg s wrc2007 in service @ 2008 rally mexico

the wrc2007, revised version of earlier year s car, introduced @ fourth round of championship, rally mexico. featured new dampers, different radiator , intercooler arrangement, improved weight distribution, suspension geometry , differential set-ups. considered underachieving compared newly introduced 2007 focus wrc , all-new citroen c4 wrc. car suffered extensive handling problems, resulting in subaru withdrawing rally finland on second day of rally.

each transmission in wrc2007 takes 85 hours build, , costs on ₤75,000. front , rear differentials similar while centre differential unique. each takes around 16 hours build costs ₤20,000. cases transmission , differentials constructed magnesium reduce weight. filled oil, transmission weighs 95 kg, , differential weighs 25 kg. car s engine, transmission , differential individually oil sealed, can removed , replaced without fluid loss. helps team replace components in 10–12 minutes. transmission s lubrication system has 4.5 litre capacity , includes oil pump control differential temperatures, operate around 100c. transmission retains roadgoing impreza s h pattern utilizes hydraulically actuated , electronically controlled semi-automatic gearshift. hydraulic gear shift system operates @ pressure of 2,500psi, allowing gear shifts completed in less .1 seconds.

world rally car impreza ge, 2008

in december 2007, subaru began testing wrc2008, based on new ge chassis impreza wrx. 2008 car expected benefit decreased polar moment of inertia due smaller overhangs, , features double wishbone rear suspension. however, prodrive found setup inferior, , converted rear suspension original macpherson design. however, updated 2007 car used first few rallies, 2008 car introduced after that. markko märtin signed deal become official test driver subaru team in 2008, , has far done majority of testing on wrc2008. during 4-day test @ sardinia between 30 april , 3 may 2008, petter solberg , chris atkinson drove wrc2008 first time. date debut still not given. on 20 may 2008, subaru world rally team confirmed new impreza world rally car (wrc2008) make wrc debut @ acropolis rally of greece, beginning on 29th of may. on cars rally debut, wrc2008 scored first podium finish petter solberg placing 2nd in acropolis rally.

vehicle preparation

before each rally, each bodyshell rebuilt. in 1993, each bodyshell rebuild took 160 hours. in 2003 took 650 man hours. in 2006 took 780 hours.