Can I put the SWRT Livery onto my Road Car?
No, we are afraid not. The livery is trademarked not just to prevent it being copied and used commercially, but to maintain the integrity of the Subaru World Rally Team's World Rally Cars in order that they stand out wherever they go as the pinnacle of the sport.

We have had a number of instances where members of the public have complained directly to the team regarding roadcars that had SWRT decals on them where they were being driven erratically or without due consideration to other members of the roadgoing public. The rest of the community believes that these cars with the SWRT livery are in some way affiliated with the team and could then reproach the team directly regarding this bad driving. We would seek to eliminate all such confusion by maintaining the integrity of the livery for just the Subaru World Rally Team and ask members of the public to not apply stickers copying the team livery onto their own cars.

Please could you send me a signed photograph of the drivers?
Due to the sheer number of requests we receive for signed pictures and giveaways, we cannot answer any requests unless they are accompanied by a stamped, self addressed envelope.

Therefore, please send all requests to: Subaru World Rally Team, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX16 3ER, UK with an SAE and we will do our best to reply to you as soon as we can.

What are the differences between a road and rally car?
Generally speaking, the Subaru Impreza WRC2004 is based on the Impreza road car, but it is specially modified to withstand the rigours of competition and for safety reasons. To fit with the regulations though the car must retain the outward appearance of the road car on which it is based.

The road car bodyshell has to have around 400 man-hours of work put in to get it ready for competition - this includes stiffening the body shell and installing a roll cage. The cage provides protection for us in the event of an accident while the additional rigidity benefits the car's ride and handling. By the time the work is finished the roll cage can withstand in excess of twenty times the car's weight.

Subaru boxer engine. It is positioned in such a way in the rally car to provide a low centre of gravity and improved handling. The cost of a rally car engine alone is the same amount with which you could buy five Subaru Impreza WRX road cars.

The rally car's transmission is an advanced fly-by-wire semi-automatic system, which enables me to change gear around thirty times quicker than a traditional manual road car. Another big difference is the suspension. Again, they are specially made to put up with the punishing nature of the rallies and one corner alone costs the same as a standard road car (four are required in total for each car).

How can I become a rally driver?
There is no magic route to becoming a rally driver. World Rally Championship drivers have spent years at the wheel before reaching the top of their profession.

Most drivers start out at a national level and can do so by joining their local motor club. By joining your local motor club, you can interact with people with similar interests and aims. You can get involved with rallying at a local and national level by spectating or even venturing into marshalling or servicing another member's car when they are competing, to gain knowledge of the sport.

If you live in the UK, you can find out your local motor club from the national motorsports association, the MSA at www.msauk.org

In the UK every driver competing in stage rallies is required to hold a Stage Rally Competition Licence. Novices will have to complete a BARS (British Association of Rally Schools) course and apply to British rallying's governing body, the MSA, for a "Go Rallying Pack" - information to tell you how to get started.

To get the basic skills of driving a rally car, it will be a useful experience to go to a rally school. You can find approved rally schools by contacting your national motorsports association.

If you want to start competing at a national level you will need to get a competition licence, again from your national motorsports association.

To begin with you will not get the service of a top WRC drive. You will have to provide your own car and service crew on local and national events. You will also have to pay for all of this, unless you can get sponsorship, so it can be a very expensive career.

The Impreza WRC makes a whistling or chirping noise on the stages - where does it come from?
The noise made by the Subaru Impreza WRC comes from the engine - the turbo-charger to be exact. When the driver takes his foot off of the throttle there are less exhaust gasses to keep the turbo spinning and the turbine could slow down. To prevent this happening we developed an anti-lag system to keep the turbine spinning - and it's this pressured system that makes the whistling or chirping noise on deceleration.

How can I become a rally car technician?
All of the Subaru World Rally Team technicians have undergone a lengthy period of training that usually starts with a college course in automotive mechanics or an engineering-related subject.

Some of the team's technician are sponsored through college under an apprenticeship scheme with a motor manufacturer, a route that combines classroom theory and practical work experience in a dealership.

For more details about apprenticeships with the Subaru World Rally Team, please contact hr@prodrive.com