Subaru Rally Team USA Heads to Rally New Zealand

- Ramana Lagemann to Compete in Group N Championship -

CHERRY HILL, N.J., April 10 -- Subaru Rally Team USA today announced that Ramana Lagemann will compete in the 2003 Propecia Rally New Zealand. Lagemann will pilot a Group N WRX in the fourth rally of the World Rally Championship, teamed with his new co-driver for the 2003 season, Michael Orr.

"Driving in the Rally New Zealand for Subaru Rally Team USA is a tremendous opportunity for me," said Lagemann. "The Group N competition in New Zealand will be a challenging and valuable learning experience for me. I'm really excited to compete in a WRC event."

Rally New Zealand celebrates its 33rd edition this year, and is the longest running World Championship event in the Southern Hemisphere. This year, New Zealand is hosting round four of the 2003 FIA World Rally Championship. The route for the 2003 edition encompasses roads that are among the most challenging offered during the World Rally Championship providing a true test of both man and machine.

"Ramana is a young driver who continues to show potential, and we're taking this opportunity to further develop his talents and broaden his experience," said Subaru Rally Team USA Director, David Campion. "Everyone at Subaru Rally Team USA is very optimistic about the 2003 SCCA ProRally season, and we're confident we will be the team to beat for the driver's and manufacturer's championships."

Lagemann, a 23-year old native of Boston, Mass., made his debut last year as a member of Subaru Rally Team USA, driving one of two Open Class Impreza WRX rally cars. Lagemann will drive the same grueling rally stages as the famed 555 Subaru World Rally Team drivers, battling the loose gravel covered, high speed stages situated on New Zealand's North Island. Prior to joining Subaru Rally Team USA in 2002, Lagemann drove a private entry Group N Subaru WRX in the SCCA ProRally series. Co-driver Michael Orr, a native of Ireland, entered his first stage rally ten years ago at the age of 17, and brings with him the experience of competing in over 100 events in a variety of countries.

About Subaru Rally Team USA

In its debut season, Subaru Rally Team USA captured the 2001 SCCA ProRally Manufacturer's Championship, as well as Driver's Championships in both the Open and Group N classes. Subaru Rally Team USA is a collaborative effort between Subaru of America, Inc., Subaru Tecnica International (STi) and Subaru World Rally Team Representative, Prodrive. Subaru Rally Team USA uses Pirelli tires exclusively. For additional information about the team, visit www.rally.Subaru.com or www.media.Subaru.com.

About Subaru of America, Inc.

Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered near Philadelphia, the company markets and distributes all-wheel drive Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of nearly 600 dealers across the United States. Subaru is the only manufacturer to have all-wheel drive as standard equipment on every vehicle they make. Subaru has been the best-selling import wagon in America for the past 20 years, based on R.L. Polk & Company new vehicle retail registration statistics calendar year-end 2002.