If you’ve paid even the slightest attention to rallying over the years, you’ll know that the winningest Subarus were blue with gold wheels. When Colin McRae, Richard Burns and Petter Solberg won the world championship in 1995, 2001 and 2003 respectively, their Imprezas were exactly that. Thing is, Subaru kind of forgot it. Until now, because Subaru of America has just unveiled its 2019 motorsports livery, a return to the brand’s signature blue and gold colors with a new star cluster graphic inspired by the world-beating Subaru World Rally Team cars of the 1990s and 2000s (the stars followed the famous 555 cigarette branding of the early Imprezas). The team also announced that it will now combine stage rally, rallycross, record attempts, off-road racing, and circuit racing under the banner of Subaru Motorsports.
“These colors are part of our brand’s history, and beloved by our enthusiasts,” said Alan Bethke, Vice President of Marketing for Subaru of America. “For a generation of rally fans, Subaru is synonymous with blue cars, gold wheels and the iconic star cluster. This new design pays tribute to that heritage, while looking ahead to future success under the Subaru Motorsports name.” The all-new design, to officially debut on January 14 at the North American International Auto Show, is said to be WR Blue Pearl base color with gold-painted wheels and bright yellow graphics dominated by the Subaru star cluster on the doors. It’s a bigger, bolder take on the “Comet” motif made famous by the World Rally Championship-winning Imprezas of Richard Burns and Petter Solberg. The distinctive logo of Subaru Tecnica International, Subaru’s performance division, appears on the front side intakes, rear wing endplates and trunklid vent panel. And just in case you’re wondering, the cars still feature the boxer engine and symmetrical all-wheel drive. Phew.
Last year, Subaru Rally Team USA won the American Rally Association (ARA) overall title, finished on the podium in the Americas Rallycross (ARX) championship and secured a Manufacturer’s Championship in the Pirelli World Challenge TCA class with partner TechSport Racing. It also claimed a Class 5 win at the Vegas to Reno off-road race with Crawford Performance/Grabowski Brothers Racing, and established a benchmark record at Romania’s famed Transfagarasan Highway with the WRX STI Type RA Time Attack. The renamed Subaru Motorsports will debut the new competition livery at Missouri’s Rally in the 100 Acre Wood, March 15-16.
Images courtesy of Subaru
