Subaru Impreza Rally Car '01
2001 was a revolutionairy year for the Subaru Impreza. Not only had the road car undergo a full evolution, but the rally car you see here grew into a 4 door body style. Though there was concern about the rigidity being torn to shreds on the many terrains, Subaru made it so that it would have just as much, if not more so, than the previous car without gaining any weight. What set it apart though was the massive improvements in aerodynamics, a reward of them changing their body style highlighted by its unusual face. Though it was different on the outside, on the inside, much of the previous Impreza made it onto the new car, meaning that its still one heck of a potent machine.
The drivers for this season would be none other than Richard Burns, along with Petter Solberg, Markko Martin and Toshihiro Arai. Petter's career truly began here, as he finished in his at-the-time best result in 2nd at the 2001 Rally of Greece and 10th overall in the season. And although Richard never won more than once during the season, The Rally of New Zealand, his develishly good consistency put him in the title race, eventually winning his first and only title by finishing third in the Network Q Rally GB. When he crossed the line, he paid tribute to his ever trusty co-driver Robert Reid by uttering "You're the best in the world!".
It truly is a crying shame that Richard is no longer around.
Ford Focus Rally Car '01
Ford, a long time participant in the World Rally Championship, had for the better part of the 90's always competed with the Escort model. At the turn of the new millenium though, the company would introduce not just a new race car for the 99 season, it would also introduce a brand new lead driver, in the shape of Colin McRae, who at this stage was already a champion of the 1995 season and a runner-up in 97.
Just as in the production Focus, its engine was mounted transversly, but it's X-Trac transmission was mounted longitudinally in an effort to improve the car's weight distribution. Their main rival, Peugeot, also used the same layout in the 206. But in comparison to their rivals, Ford's structual rigidity far surpassed Peugeot's.
A stellar driver lineup was also employed: the mentioned Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz served as team mates, as were François Delecour and Mark Higgins.
McRae was in a spectacular three-way duel for the World Rally title, along with Richard Burns, Tommi Makinen. His luck sadly ran out though: On Stage 4 of the rally of Great Britain, Colin had cut the corner a little too much, which resulted in dire consequences. With him, along with Makinen and Sainz out, he lost the championship by two points to Richard Burns, showcasing just how cruel and dangerous motorsports can be.
👍
. 
