Subaru Marks 30th Anniversary of Championship-Winning STI
Three World Rally Championships and 47 WRC overall wins, and four class wins at Nürburgring… Is there anything Subaru Tecnica International can’t do?!?
Earlier this month, Subaru marked the 30th anniversary of the founding of Subaru Tecnica International (STI), the championship-winning motorsports subsidiary of parent company Subaru Corporation and developer of high-performance Subaru vehicles and parts. STI’s competition-proven engineering has been a critical influence on Subaru new-vehicle development, specifically the brand’s focus on driving performance that instills driver confidence. The WRX STI was the first STI model offered in the U.S. market (2004) and remains the Subaru’s performance flagship.
Since its inception on April 2, 1988, STI has taken Subaru to three World Rally Championships, 47 WRC overall wins, and four class wins in Germany’s 24-Hours Nürburgring. Rallying success continues, and STI will again return to the Nürburgring 24-Hour race in May.
In July 2017, Subaru made history at the Nürburgring Nordschleife (north loop), setting the lap record for sedans at a stunning 6:57.5 with a WRX STI Type RA NBR with the help of Subaru of America and Prodrive. This car also set lap records at the Isle of Man TT and the Goodwood Festival of Speed hill climb, where it was third fastest. Subaru celebrated the car’s records by issuing the limited-production 2018 WRX STI Type RA (Record Attempt), with 500 units allocated for the U.S. The 2018 WRX STI is the best-handling, best-performing STI yet, and the WRX STI Type RA ups the ante with more power, a carbon fiber roof, Bilstein STI Sport Suspension and a modified Multi-Mode Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) system. Also for 2018, Subaru is offering a limited-run BRZ tS (tuned by STI) featuring STI aerodynamic body design, STI-tuned suspension and 18-inch wheels.
Starting with a World Record
Subaru’s racing roots date to 1972, when a Leone model (GL in the U.S. market) competed in Australia’s Southern Cross Rally. In 1980, Subaru made history with the first four-wheel drive car entered in the World Rally Championship (WRC). As turbocharged four-wheel drive Subarus were establishing a competitive presence, Subaru committed to competition and performance by establishing a motorsports and performance-development subsidiary, Subaru Tecnica International (STI).
Guided by STI founder and president Ryuichiro Kuze, STI built its first car in 1989, the Subaru Legacy RS RA. The RA featured modified suspension, brakes and a 220 HP turbocharged Subaru Boxer engine. In January 1989, the STI-prepared Subaru Legacy Turbo, broke the FIA World Speed Endurance Record for 100,000km. Over 20 days on a track in Arizona, the Legacy drove more than 62,000 miles at an average speed of 138 mph.
WRC Domination
After a successful competition debut at the Safari Rally in 1990, STI set its sights on the World Rally Championship (WRC). The Legacy became the basis for Subaru’s foray into World Rally Championship with Colin McRae as the driver. The Legacy recorded Subaru’s first win in 1993 at the New Zealand Rally.
For 1994, STI switched to the compact Subaru Impreza, and a winning streak began. The STI team took second overall in 1994 and then won manufacturers’ titles in 1995 1996 and 1997, making Subaru the first Japanese company to win the WRC manufacturers’ championship for three consecutive years.
With 47 WRC wins, STI has led Subaru to more rally wins than any other Japanese manufacturer. This achievement, coupled with the success of drivers including Colin McRae (1995 drivers’ champion), Richard Burns (2001 champion), Peter Solberg (2003 champion), and Toshihiro Arai (2005 and 2007 Production car WRC champion), has placed Subaru and STI among the most respected brands in rally competition. Subaru and STI continue to campaign and win in rallying and Global Rallycross around the world.