Motorsports | Subaru Global

Japanese Alpine Rally

Ceremonial start - October, 18 2002

On Friday October 18, the ceremonial start of the 20th V-RALLY International Japanese Alpine Rally (further referred as Japanese Alpine Rally) was held at the special site in the breezy Odaiba area in Tokyo. At 6 pm, Possum Bourne (Subaru Rally Team Australia) started as number 34, and Toshihiro Arai (555 Subaru World Rally Team) was the last to start as number 36. Each car made their start for the total of 22 Special Stages (total competition distance 175.02 km).

Many fans started to gather to the Odaiba site of the Ceremonial Start at 1:00 pm as soon was the site was opened. There wewe many PR booths including STI(Subaru Tecnica International) and had held the talk session starring Arai and Bourne. These PR activities are very meaningful when considering broadening the base of rally fans. And among the exhibition space of rally cars, there was also the Subaru Legacy RS, the car that won the first WRC for Subaru at New Zealand at 1993. When we heard from the father and the child who was standing in front of the car, the father put his hand on the child's head and said as follows. "I can't forget the first win in 1993. It's also the year my child was born."

Rally links with people's life, and is descended to the next generation.

There was a sudden crowd gathering at one corner of the site. The prototype of "Subaru Impreza WRC 2003" had made their first appearance in front of Japanese fans. Its facade had become much fearless and determined, the body panel, the cooling devices and the aeroparts had also renewed. And for most, the engine has been revised.

"We have revised from the basic of the car. We are still working to build a car that has more fighting power and reliability." (Masaru Katsuta, president of STI)

This car will be brought into WRC at Monte Carlo, the first event next season, and is guaranteed to cause another Subaru Sensation.

Toshihiro Arai was the winner of the Japanese Alpine Rally last year, and he seeks for consecutive win Subaru Impreza WRC 2002.

"There's not any course layout like this in WRC, and is very difficult. But we have to win. And we mean to win"(Toshihiro Arai)

Meanwhile, Bourne has recently won Rally Hokkaido, and has won New Zealand Rally in WRC with Group N. He returned to Japan keeping his vigor, and continues the challenge with Subaru Impreza WRX Group A car.

"The team arrived in the beginning of October to prepare for this event. I am convinced we would do a good rally." (P. Bourne)

The Leg 1 of The Japanese Alpine Rally will start from SS 1 on 6:45 am tomorrow morning, with total of 109.38 km for 12 Special Stages.

Description:

The Japanese Alpine Rally, held for the first time in July 1959, was the inaugural motorsport event to be staged in Japan. Such was its success, the event ran annually for 18 consecutive years covering some of the most spectacular mountain roads in the country. At its peak, the Japanese Alpine Rally attracted 115 entrants, the contenders driving what were then rare and expensive cars over 2000 kilometres in four days of competition. Last year, 25 years after the last Alpine Rally was staged in 1976, the event was reborn, staking a claim as the first international rally in Japan.

In 2001, the 19th Spike International Japanese Alpine Rally was hosted in the Agatsuma area of Gunma prefecture and attracted no fewer than 27 entries from five nations, including leading crews contesting the World and Asia-Pacific Rally Championships. Subaru World Rally Team driver Toshihiro Arai claimed a crushing victory, powering his Impreza World Rally Car over the asphalt special stages to the delight of more than 6000 spectators, many witnessing world-class rally action for the first time in their lives.

The Spike International Jpanese Alpine Rally returns to Gunma as V-Rally Jpanese Alpine Rally for 2002, rally headquarters based in the resort of Karuizawa, 150 kilometres north-west of Tokyo. The route is scheduled to cover 160 kilometres of demanding asphalt special stages and has already attracted interest from international and Japanese crews alike. With more than 200 media covering the event in 2001, this years Spike International Japanese Alpine Rally is set to grow in prestige, underlining its status as the premier asphalt rally in Asia.

The 20th V-Rally Japanese Alpine Rally Starts! Ceremonial start - October, 18 2002 On Friday October 18, the ceremonial start of the 20th V-RALLY International Japanese Alpine Rally (further referred as Japanese Alpine Rally) was held at the special site in the breezy Odaiba area in Tokyo. At 6 pm, Possum Bourne (Subaru Rally Team Australia) started as number 34, and Toshihiro Arai (555 Subaru World Rally Team) was the last to start as number 36. Each car made their start for the total of 22 Special Stages (total competition distance 175.02 km). Odaiba Becomes Rally Wonderland Many fans started to gather to the Odaiba site of the Ceremonial Start at 1:00 pm as soon was the site was opened. There wewe many PR booths including STI(Subaru Tecnica International) and had held the talk session starring Arai and Bourne. These PR activities are very meaningful when considering broadening the base of rally fans. And among the exhibition space of rally cars, there was also the Subaru Legacy RS, the car that won the first WRC for Subaru at New Zealand at 1993. When we heard from the father and the child who was standing in front of the car, the father put his hand on the child's head and said as follows. "I can't forget the first win in 1993. It's also the year my child was born." Rally links with people's life, and is descended to the next generation. The Prototype of Impreza WR Car Makes Appearance There was a sudden crowd gathering at one corner of the site. The prototype of "Subaru Impreza WRC 2003" had made their first appearance in front of Japanese fans. Its facade had become much fearless and determined, the body panel, the cooling devices and the aeroparts had also renewed. And for most, the engine has been revised. "We have revised from the basic of the car. We are still working to build a car that has more fighting power and reliability." (Masaru Katsuta, president of STI) This car will be brought into WRC at Monte Carlo, the first event next season, and is guaranteed to cause another Subaru Sensation. Will Arai Achieve Consecutive Victory? Bourne Still Keeps His Pace With Vigor! Toshihiro Arai was the winner of the Japanese Alpine Rally last year, and he seeks for consecutive win Subaru Impreza WRC 2002. "There's not any course layout like this in WRC, and is very difficult. But we have to win. And we mean to win"(Toshihiro Arai) Meanwhile, Bourne has recently won Rally Hokkaido, and has won New Zealand Rally in WRC with Group N. He returned to Japan keeping his vigor, and continues the challenge with Subaru Impreza WRX Group A car. "The team arrived in the beginning of October to prepare for this event. I am convinced we would do a good rally." (P. Bourne) The Leg 1 of The Japanese Alpine Rally will start from SS 1 on 6:45 am tomorrow morning, with total of 109.38 km for 12 Special Stages.

The Japanese Alpine Rally Description: The Japanese Alpine Rally, held for the first time in July 1959, was the inaugural motorsport event to be staged in Japan. Such was its success, the event ran annually for 18 consecutive years covering some of the most spectacular mountain roads in the country. At its peak, the Japanese Alpine Rally attracted 115 entrants, the contenders driving what were then rare and expensive cars over 2000 kilometres in four days of competition. Last year, 25 years after the last Alpine Rally was staged in 1976, the event was reborn, staking a claim as the first international rally in Japan. In 2001, the 19th Spike International Japanese Alpine Rally was hosted in the Agatsuma area of Gunma prefecture and attracted no fewer than 27 entries from five nations, including leading crews contesting the World and Asia-Pacific Rally Championships. Subaru World Rally Team driver Toshihiro Arai claimed a crushing victory, powering his Impreza World Rally Car over the asphalt special stages to the delight of more than 6000 spectators, many witnessing world-class rally action for the first time in their lives. The Spike International Jpanese Alpine Rally returns to Gunma as V-Rally Jpanese Alpine Rally for 2002, rally headquarters based in the resort of Karuizawa, 150 kilometres north-west of Tokyo. The route is scheduled to cover 160 kilometres of demanding asphalt special stages and has already attracted interest from international and Japanese crews alike. With more than 200 media covering the event in 2001, this years Spike International Japanese Alpine Rally is set to grow in prestige, underlining its status as the premier asphalt rally in Asia.