Subaru Rally Team USA Announces Driver Lineup - New Driver Pair to Team With Lagemann/Orr for Remainder of 2003 Season -
CHERRY HILL, N.J., Aug. 28, 2003 -- Subaru Rally Team USA today announced its new driver pairing for the team's second vehicle entry in the final two rounds of the 2003 SCCA ProRally series. Pasi Hagstrom and co-driver Marko Taskinen will make their US ProRally debut at the Wild West Rally in Olympia, Wash., on September 6.
The pair joins current Subaru Rally Team USA drivers Ramana Lagemann and Michael Orr who recently finished second overall at the Ojibwe Forest Rally in Bemidji, Minn., on August 22-23.
The new driver lineup comes after the tragic loss of Mark Lovell and Roger Freeman at the Oregon Trail ProRally earlier this year.
"The Subaru team is in transition after the devastating loss of Mark and Roger," said Subaru Rally Team USA Manager, James Han. "We are very pleased to have Pasi and Marko onboard. The pair brings a wealth of rallying experience to our team, and we look forward to posting strong performances in the remaining two events this season."
Pasi Hagstrom, a 12-year rally veteran, captured the Finnish Championship title in 1999. He made his WRC debut in 1994 driving successfully for another manufacturer, prior to joining the Subaru World Rally Team as a test driver in 2002. Hagstrom makes his competitive US ProRally debut for Subaru Rally Team USA at the Wild West Rally in Olympia, Wash. along with co-driver Marko Taskinen.
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 of America, Inc., is the only car company that offers symmetrical all-wheel drive as standard equipment on every vehicle in its product line. 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.