Tommi Mäkinen breaks Nurburgring record with 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX

Once again four times World Rally Champion Tommi Mäkinen made motorsport history and wrote his name to the Nürburgring Hall of Fame with the new and fastest ever Subaru Impreza WRX STi.

Mäkinen drove the legendary Nordschleife faster than anybody has ever driven before with a four-door production saloon.

During his record breaking run, which was driven in cold and wet conditions, Mäkinen drove the 20,8 km long circuit and its 160 turns four second faster than the previous record from 2004. The new record is now 7 minutes and 55 seconds.

- The new Subaru Impreza WRX STi is very fun to drive. Even in extreme conditions the steering is precise, accurate and well balanced. I was easily able to predict its behavior as it is exactly what Subaru offers for the driver; complete confidence, told Tommi after his record breaking run.

The new Subaru Impreza WRX STi´s suspension together with four-wheel drive helped the legendary World Rally Champion to control the car during this record run, which was run during very demanding conditions.

Record breaking run is available for viewing and downloading at:
- http://www.subaru-global.com/subaru_tv.html

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Joonas Lindroos took his first Finnish Rally Championship win with TMR Subaru

A flying Finn, young Joonas Lindroos made Finnish Rally Championship history by taking his first win in the series.

Lindroos and his co-driver Jouni Lampinen took four fastest special stage times of seven possible and won the fifth and first gravel round of the Finnish Rally Championship series by 30,4 seconds marginal with Tommi Mäkinen Racing Subaru Impreza WRX STi.

The win was not a surprise for Lindroos or his co-driver. In the previous rounds of the series he has also been very fast and has been winning many stages.

He was second overall in the fourth, and final winter round of the series.

After a faultless drive in the SM O.K. Auto rally Lindroos was rewarded with a win, which he values as one of the best during his entire career.

Next event for Joonas will be the Neste Rally Finland where he will measure his speed against the top rally drivers in the world behind the steering wheel of Tommi Mäkinen Racing Subaru WRX Impreza STi.

Final results SM O.K. Auto rally, Kouvola:
1. Joonas Lindroos & Jouni Lampinen, Subaru Impreza WRX STi, 52:25,0
2. Juha Salo & Tomi Tuominen, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10, +30,4sec
3. Ari Vihavainen & Antti Piira, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10, +41,7sec

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10.6.2010 - Wide development test program for Tommi Mäkinen Racing Subaru Impreza WRX STi 2010 Spec

Nine months ago Tommi Mäkinen Racing started a test and development program for Subaru Impreza WRX STi 2010 Spec. Now, after thousands of test kilometres, development program has continued in Polish demanding tarmac and gravel conditions.

- Due to the successful tests the performance of our car has improved significantly, says Tommi Mäkinen.

Renewal of Tommi Mäkinen Racing organization

After the leave of mr. Esko Reiners, MD since autumn 2006, mr. Tommi Mäkinen has moved to the lead of the company. In addition to his managing tasks the technical developement is near of his heart and that can be seen.

His contact details are tommi@tommimakinenracing.fi, tel. +358 - 500 641 154.

Mr. Kari Hytönen, your contact person at our sales, can be reached at kari@tommimakinenracing.fi, tel. +358-40-5218 328.

Mr. Mikko Ruoho, engineer, can be reached at mikko.ruoho@tommimakinenracing.fi as usual, tel. +358-50-3110 362 as well as ms. Seija Haapakoski at seija@tommimakinenracing.fi, tel. +358-40-3110 206.

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8.6.2010 - Teemu Arminen secured Italian Rally Championship in Sardinia

In this season Rally of Sardinia was an event for IRC and Italian Rally Championship series. Finns who competed with Subaru Impreza WRX STi, Teemu Arminen and his co-driver Tuomo Nikkola drove sixth position in overall classifications. They were fastest in Italy Rally Championship group and were therefore given highest Championship points.

Highest points were enough for Arminen to secure his first-ever title of Italian Rally Champion even there are still two events to be driven.

- For us the rally was trouble-free and we drove without taking any risks. Right from the first stages of the rally I was able made a difference for my fellow competitors and for the rest of the rally we just avoid to hit any rocks, Arminen shared his thoughts.

- Due one and half times Championship points I didn’t match my speed for IRC drivers. Still sixth position in very competitive group of drivers is an excellent result for us and for Subaru. This result was also a great reward for our Motoring Club rally team, Arminen continued.

- A year ago in Italy I lost the Championship title in final event by four seconds. I’m very happy to secure the title as there are still two events to be driven, very satisfied Arminen tells.

Final results, IRC Rally Sardinia, Italy
1. Juho Hänninen (FIN), Skoda Fabia S2000 2.31.28,6
2. Paolo Andreucci (I), Peugeot 207 S2000 + 35,6
3. Jan Kopecky (CZ), Skoda Fabia S2000 + 38,2
4. Thierry Neuville (B), Peugeot 207 S2000 + 5.58,6
5. Bruno Magalhaes (P), Peugeot 207 S2000 + 9.55,8
6. Teemu Arminen (FIN), Subaru Impreza + 10.12,3

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1.6.2010 - Kajetan Kajetanowicz won LOTOS Rally with TMR Subaru

Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Jarek Baran have won the second round of Polish Rally Championship. LOTOS featuring event turned out to be fortunate for Subaru Poland Rally Team, whose rally car was prepared by Tommi Makinen Racing.

Team took the first position in day one classification, the second on the following day to end up as winners in the whole rally. They have also triumphed in group N classification with the advantage of nine minutes. Kajetan and Jarek were the fastest in 6 out of 13 stages.

- The whole Team was extremely well prepared for this round and I hope it will be like that during the next rallies. Everything was going according to the plan and finished very well. I would like to thank the Team for doing a great job and also to our partners, Kajetanowicz said.

- This was an excellent continuance for first tarmac round which we would also have won without suffering a puncture, he continued.

Lotos Rally results:
1. Kajetanowicz / Baran Subaru Impreza 1:39:57.9
2. Kuzaj / Parry Skoda Fabia S2000 +33.3
3. Solowow / Baran Ford Fiesta S2000 +2:04.9

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31.5.2010 - Joonas Lindroos and Max Christensen also in excellent speed

Flying Finns Joonas Lindroos and Danish star Max Christensen have also showed again their skills behind the steering wheel of Subaru Impreza WRX STi rally car. Chritensen has been victorious in Denmark and highly talented 4WD star Joonas Lindroos was leading the International Rally of Tallinn before the two final stages. However he was forced to retire the event in transit section due to a transmission failure.

Danboring Rally, Denmark: Overall classifications
1. Christensen / Ravn Subaru Impreza WRX STI, 1:05:33.9
2. Jensen / Pedersen Peugeot 207 Super 2000, +17.8sek
3. Madsen / Posorski Peugeot 306 Maxi, +45.1sek

Rally Adritiaco, Italy: Group-N classifications
1. Arminen / Nikkola Subaru Impreza WRX STi, 1:21:06.2
2. Bruschetta / Civiero Subaru Impreza WRX STi, +1:25,1sek
3. Ricci / Pfister Subaru Impreza WRX STi, +1:33,3sek

International Rall of Tallinn: Overall classifications
1. Kaur / Lepikson Subaru Impreza WRX STi, 53:02,7
2. Remmak / Suuder Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX, +38,6sek
3. Uus / Ivask Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX, +50,4sek
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8. Salomaa /Näsman Subaru Impreza WRX STi, +2:15,4sek
ret. Joonas Lindroos

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Older news:
- 01.03.2010 - Subaru Impreza WRX STi Spec-C 2010 homologation begins from March 1st 2010
- 31.01.2010 - Subaru showed its’ reliability and speed in Arctic Lapland Rally
- 28.02.2010 - Kristian Sohlberg gave a superb show with TMR Subaru in FRC Vaakuna rally
- 27.02.2010 - Sheikh Haned bin Eid Al-Thani and TMR Subaru Impreza WRX STi shined in MERC
- Season 2009 newsarchive
- Season 2008 newsarchive
- Season 2007 newsarchive
- Seasons 2004-2006 newsarchive