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The latest Subaru World Rally Team Member
- Part 2 -
Letter from SWRT
20 January 2006
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This week we bring you part two of our exclusive B9 Tribeca feature. Last week we explained how the American-specification model was imported to the Subaru World Rally Team headquarters in the UK and was prepared for active service with the team. The B9 Tribeca will be used by the SWRT drivers and management at European events of the World Rally Championship.
On arrival the B9 Tribeca, the new Subaru SUV, was taken to the SWRT paintshop to be sprayed into the distinctive blue of the rally cars. After painting and drying the car was then given its finishing touches to seal initiation into the SWRT fleet. The SWRT gold six-star logo and STI Performance logos were carefully applied to the rear and the sides of the car, but as you'd expect, it s not as easy as sticking the logos on and making sure the surface is smooth.
The STI logo was cut from single layer vinyl with a computer-plotting machine, while the fluorescent comet logo was produced with double layer vinyl due to the blue shadow that features underneath. Each transfer was then smoothed on before a scalpel was used to remove any air pockets that had appeared between the two vinyl layers.
As you'll see from the accompanying photos the B9 Tribeca eventually became a fully-fledged team member. It will make its debut at the first event on the calendar, Rallye Monte Carlo, the same event that another Subaru makes its own debut - the Impreza WRC2006, the latest WRC title challenger.
But the two models have a lot more in common than the date of their launch. Both the B9 Tribeca and the Impreza WRC2006 have the Symmetrical AWD developed in the WRC, one of the toughest test environments in the world. Subaru's core technology makes the B9 Tribeca and the rally car stable yet agile, with excellent responsiveness. The same technology is also installed in the Forester, the Legacy, Outback and road-going Impreza models.
So there you have it: the final preparation for the newest SWRT member. With its superb functionality and high performance the B9 Tribeca is expected to be a valuable asset to the team.
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2006
2005
