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The eye-catching blue and yellow livery of the Subaru Impreza WRC2005 is as iconic in rallying as the red of Ferrari is in F1. The car's appearance is the first thing that people notice and the last thing they forget, so it's important the Subaru World Rally Team get it right.

Even before going near the car, each partner's logo is created and meticulously checked by SWRT commercial manager Colin Clark to ensure it complies with both partners' contractual agreements and the team's image. Once the livery is laid out and finalised, it's up to the Subaru World Rally Team 'sticker crew' of John Dickens and Lee Thomas to turn the awesome looking Subaru Impreza WRC2005 into a work of art.

Each of the 67 stickers applied is cut from single layer vinyl with a computer-plotting machine, while the more tricky ones are sent to a printer. The exceptions are the fluorescent comet logos, which are produced with double layer vinyl due to the blue shadow that features underneath. Working non-stop, it takes John and Lee two hours to apply a complete set of stickers. Having to ensure that each is in the correct position before applying by hand, John and Lee should count themselves lucky - the overall number of stickers could well be more, but the seven logos on the rear pillar and 16 that appear on the inside of the door are actually applied as one transfer each.

	Copyright © STI

The most difficult logo to attach is the internal screen visor, which must be applied wet to prevent air bubbles, while the immense Subaru logos that adorn each side of the car are a close second. The Impreza's undulating aerodynamic shape and sheer surface area mean they have to be applied in three sections each. Each transfer is smoothed on using a credit card-like object, before a scalpel is used to remove any air pockets that creep between the two vinyl layers.

Applying the stickers is a time-consuming task and the team finish off by ensuring there are no sharp edges left over, which could affect the aerodynamics.


Below is a break down of how many stickers there are on each section of the Impreza WRC2005:

Bonnet	7	Front wings	8
Front bumper	14	Roof vent	1
Wind screen	3	Rear screen	2
Car interior	7	Sides of car	6
Sills	2	Rear wings	4
Rear bumper	6	Boot	1
Spoiler	1	Rear windows	4
Roof	1

Total : 67