23 September 2005
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| Copyright © STI |
The late Ryuichiro Kuze made an enormous contribution to the development of rally sports as the founder of STI, not only forming the SUBARU World Rally Team (SWRT), SUBARU's works team, but also committing himself to the development of Japanese rally drivers. While maintaining his enthusiasm for making SUBARU the best in the world, he also had a strong desire to hold WRC events in Japan, starting with SUBARU's WRC program. In last year's Rally Japan, the first WRC race ever held in this country, SWRT's Petter Solberg was overall winner and SUBARU driver Toshihiro Arai won the Group N category, to the absolute delight of Kuze.
Kuze passed away on March 9th this year, just before WRC Rally Mexico where SWRT's new World Rally Car, the IMPREZA WRC2005, debuted. SWRT placed a sticker saying "Tribute to R. Kuze" on the rear wing of their cars in Corona Rally Mexico, and Petter Solberg's victory in that race echoed Kuze's achievements. Later his family made a donation for the purpose of helping the advancement of motor sport and, in accordance with Kuze's wishes, STI took the opportunity of this year's Rally Japan to establish the new award.
The new Ryuichiro Kuze Memorial Award is for drivers and co-drivers of SUBARU cars entered in the Production Car World Rally Championship (PCWRC) and Group N Category of Rally Japan 2005, and is given to the top three crews in each category. The award is a specially designed acrylic plaque that has an image of Kuze's smiling face, with a supplementary prize for the team of a tool kit made by US company Snap-on.
The award ceremony is scheduled to be held in the evening of Sunday, October 2, the day the final results of Rally Japan 2005 are announced, at the SUBARU hospitality booth in Kita Aikoku Hiroba (on the outskirts of Obihiro City)where a service park of the rally is located. Representing the family of Ryuichiro Kuze will be his widow, Kiyo Kuze.
