Tests and Features

Subaru, the Japanese automaker, has revamped its two intermediate models, the Legacy and the Outback, for 2010. Both versions have good sales figures, but neither quite lives up the competition’s updated models given that this category has seen innovation after innovation as manufacturers continue to improve their products. Two vocations …

This year I am driving Subaru Canada’s official entry at Targa Newfoundland, a fully race-prepared Impreza WRX STI. Subaru Rally Team Canada is thus competing on the Rock for the seventh consecutive year and our goal is to become the first team ever to win overall in the Targa class …

The Car Guide will be at the heart of the action again this year in the Targa Newfoundland event. After driving a hybrid-powered Lexus sedans in the two previous editions of this unique motorsport event, contributor Marc Lachapelle will indeed be driving a race-prepared Impreza WRX STI for Subaru Rally …

There was a steady rain over Marystown as teams filed out of the arena for the long transit to the first stage of the ultimate day of competition in this 8th edition of Targa Newfounbdland. The Subaru Canada Targa Rally Team had a surprise for their driver that morning. As …

Team Subaru Targa had a very good Fourth Leg on Thursday. Our goal is to be safe first and foremost, and then turn in the best possible stage times. Happy to report that we have given our guys no work beyond the normal checks all through Thursday, with the single …

We were in very good shape entering Leg Three on Wednesday. The car felt strong with the slightly higher boost pressure co-driver/chief mechanic Stewart Hoo had dialled in. And if it wasn’t good, he would whip out his computer and change it as we rolled on in a transit. How …

You really need to sleep as well as possible when tackling the six-day endurance race that is Targa Newfoundland, but that is easier said than done. As a driver, you must first let the adrenalin consume itself in your veins after the utter thrill that is the in-town stage at …

Sorry for not updating or adding much to this blog in the past two days. I was frankly not in the shape or spirit to do so. We effectively went off the road quite hard on the very first Prologue run on the Flatrock stage on Sunday. There is a …

There are several pre-race events in St-John’s before registration begins on Saturday at Targa. Teams come in by air or by land, get organized, run errands, pick up parts or raid the grocery store for vital things like water bottles or energy drinks to keep drivers awake during long stages.

With their turbocharged ‘boxer’ engines, all-wheel drive system, tough bodies and solid reliability, Subaru’s WRX and STI models have long been favourites of driving enthusiasts and rally competitors of all persuasions. These and the many special variants produced by the auto-making branch of Fuji Heavy Industries have also literally become …