Sun 17 Nov 2024
Ahead of the FORUM8 Rally Japan FIA World Rally Championship season decider next weekend, the FIA European Rally Championship is highlighting the achievements of two Japanese manufacturers in the ERC, namely Subaru and Toyota.
Following yesterday’s focus on five drivers who made the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 tick during the 2024 ERC season, today it’s the turn of Subaru and a reminder of six drivers who achieved success with Impreza power since the streamlining of the ERC in 2004.
Andreas Aigner
Three wins and one second place helped Andreas Aigner to ERC Production Cup glory in 2013 at the wheel of a Stohl Racing-run Subaru Impreza STI R4 (above and below).
Toshi Arai
As well as twice winning the FIA Production Car World Rally Championship, Toshi Arai (below) took a victory and two third-place finishes in the 2013 ERC Production Cup as team-mate to Andreas Aigner (see previous entry). Arai was also an outright ERC winner prior to the championship’s 2024 restructuring, the Japanese triumphing on Tour de Luxembourg in 2000.
Wojciech Chuchała
Armed with a Subaru Impreza STI N15, Wojciech Chuchała (below) was the driver to beat in the 2025 FIA ERC2 Championship. From six starts, Chuchała won five times to claim the production-based title.
Kajetan Kajetanowicz
The last driver to win an FIA European Rally Championship fixture with Subaru power, a feat he achieved on Rally Poland in 2010, Kajetan Kajetanowicz is pictured aboard an Impreza TMR R4 on the Jänner Rallye in Austria at the start of his breakthrough 2013 ERC season, which he completed by becoming the first driver to win an ERC round in an R5 car.
Leszek Kuzaj
Subaru celebrated three wins during the modern era of the ERC and Leszek Kuzaj (below) formed part of the triumphant trio following his first place finish on Rally Poland in 2006 when a Subaru Impreza STI N12 was the car of choice for the four-time Polish champion.
Vojtěch Štajf
With two wins and four podium visits, Vojtěch Štajf was an FIA ERC2 Championship frontrunner during the 2015 season, taking his Subaru Czech Duck Racing-entered Impreza STI N16 to the runner-up spot in the final standings.
A reminder that the ERC Greatest Car contest continues tomorrow (Monday 18 November) with the quarter-final week. Follow the ERC’s social media channels to vote.
Leszek Kuzaj photo: Tomasz Kalinski
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