Page 1 of 1 At the 2003 Rally Monte Carlo the Subaru World Rally Team unveiled it's latest and most potent version of the Impreza World Rally Car yet - the WRC2003. It was the only new WRC car unveiled in Monte Carlo and with a record of 34 WRC victories since it was introduced in 1993, it's the latest in a long line of rally winning Imprezas.
Based on the latest version of the Subaru roadcar unveiled last September in Paris, the WRC2003 features a host of improvements designed to further increase its performance in the fiercely competitive 14-round FIA World Rally Championship.
Certain elements of the cars remain consistent. The Subaru trademarks of a horizontally opposed engine, full time All-Wheel-Drive and symmetrical drivetrain layout have already proved to be a winning formula that translates directly from forest track to highway.
Externally, both road and rally Imprezas share the same aggressive styling driven by the team's quest for superior aerodynamic performance in the WRC car. A new and innovative aero package on the rally version uses the air in a highly efficient way to assist cooling as well as dynamic performance. But changes to the WRC2003 are more than just skin deep. The bodyshell is lighter and stiffer than its predecessor, and under the bonnet Subaru's two-litre boxer engine has been further refined with a revised Turbo and exhaust system that boosts both power and driveability.
Bad luck struck at the Rally Monte Carlo for both Tommi Makkinen and Petter Solberg; the rally was over for Subaru before the end of the fifth stage. Page 1 of 1