11 Nov 2003
SUBARU WORLD RALLY TEAM DRIVER BLAZES HIS TRAIL IN RALLY HISTORY
Driver Petter Solberg is first Norwegian to win FIA World Rally Championship

Singapore, 11 November 2003 – History was made in Wales two days ago, 9 November 2003, when Subaru World Rally Team driver Petter Solberg became the first Norwegian to win the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) for drivers. In a spectacular finale to the 2003 WRC series, the 28-year old won the Wales Rally GB by a margin of 43.6 seconds.

This is the fifth WRC win of his career, his second consecutive victory in Wales and his first WRC Drivers’ title. The win marks the end to the most successful year of rally driving for Solberg and his Welsh co-driver, Phil Mills, aged 40. Since their first WRC win in Wales last year, the pair has recorded another four outright rally victories, 48 stage wins and seven podium finishes. Petter Solberg commented on his win, “What can I say, I am just about speechless, it is hard to put what I am feeling into words. It is such a great way to finish the year, it has been hard at times, and now it is the greatest feeling. I have to thank so many people – it is a fantastic team effort. This just proves that the more you put in, the more you get out, and now I am here as the World Rally Champion 2003!”

Contesting his last event as a full-time WRC driver, Tommi Mäkinen fulfilled his plan of retiring from the sport while at the top. After setting a lighting pace throughout the rally, the four-times World Champion finished third, his best result in GB and earned a place on the podium with Petter. As an added bonus, his emotionally charged performance netted the Finnish legend the award of “Immarsat Star of the Rally”.

Subaru has now been the driving force behind six FIA World Rally Championship titles. The Japanese marque was the Manufacturers’ champion in 1995, 1996 and 1997, while the Impreza was behind the Drivers’ titles of Colin McRae in 1995, Richard Burns in 2001 and now Petter Solberg, 2003.


About Subaru
Subaru’s philosophy is based on high quality engineering, safety, reliability, a fun driving experience and value. The company was founded in 1955 when a P-1 prototype of an all-wheel drive passenger car was completed. Since then, Subaru has grown to become one of the world’s leading carmaker, with Subaru mobiles offering superb driving pleasure and safety based on advanced technologies, including the Horizontally-Opposite Engine, the symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system and the intelligent continuously variable transmission (I-CVT).

About MOTORIMAGE
Enterprises Pte Ltd MOTORIMAGE is the sole distributor of Subaru automobiles in Singapore. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tan Chong International Limited (TCIL), a group listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange engaging in automotive, commercial, manufacturing, trading and properties investment business spanning across Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Mainland China.

About Fuji
Heavy Industries Ltd Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI) is the manufacturer of the highly distinctive and appealing Subaru brand of cars. FHI is an integrated maker of a complete range of transportation products in five divisions – automobiles, aerospace, transport and ecology systems, bus manufacturing and house prefabricating and industrial products. Founded in 1953, FHI has grown to become a multinational corporation, with facilities in half a dozen countries and a 15,000 strong workforce. As a corporate leader, FHI aims to continuously promote harmony between people, society, and the environment. FHI looks to the future with a global perspective and has in turn fostered a vibrant, progressive company.

Issued on behalf of MOTORIMAGE Enterprises, by Mileage Communications Pte Ltd.

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Mileage Communications Pte Ltd
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