Subaru has a rich history of rallying all over the world, yet in both New Zealand and Australia, their influence stretches far beyond the winning of championships or the sale of cars.
Subaru gave Possum Bourne his first break, way back in the 1980s, and today they still have a heavy involvement in rallying in the Asia-Pacific region, continuing to support factory backed teams in both Australia and New Zealand.
Aucklander Ben Hunt flies the Subaru flag at home, having driven a Subaru in the NZRC from 2013 – 2015.
A championship win in 2015 encourage Subaru New Zealand to jump on-board with factory backing for the 2016 season, and it has continued to support Hunt for the proceeding seasons.
Over in Australia, Molly Taylor (pictured) is Subaru’s leading lady. Her WRX STi may not be the fastest car in the Aussie series, but Molly is arguably the most consistent driver of them all.
She was crowned champion in 2016, Subaru’s first year back in the championship after a lengthy break, and helped to carry on Subaru’s winning tradition, started by Possum Bourne and continued by Cody Crocker in the mid-2000s.
The Subaru Impreza WRX, in its various forms, has won 12 Australian titles and 11 New Zealand championships, making it more successful than any other car in either championship’s history.
And still, in 2019, Subaru continues in both national championships. Neal Bates’ Toyota team (Australia), and Hayden Paddon’s Hyundai team (New Zealand) stand as the only manufacturer supported threats to their title chases, although there are many other competitors in with a realistic chance of winning.
While many have dubbed the current WRX “too big” or “too heavy” to compete with the smaller, lighter AP4 cars, Subaru continue to put in the hard yards and support our local championships.
Our sport owes a lot to the Subaru brand, as they have done more than their fair share to ensure the longevity of the sport in the Asia Pacific region.
Comments