Table of Contents

Introduction The Car and the Team Competition Story Sidebars Appendix

About the Author

Graham Robson possesses a world-wide reputation as a motoring historian, and has been close to the sport of rallying for many years. Not only as a competitor, team manager, organiser, reporter, commentator and observer, but above all as an enthusiastic historian, in more than forty years he has never lost touch with the sport. His experience of rallying is worldwide. Not only has he competed in many British and European events, but reported on marathons in South America, and acted as a travelling controller in the legendary London-Mexico World Cup rally. As a recognised authority on many aspects of classic cars and motoring of that period, he is the most prolific of all authors, with more than 120 published books to his credit. Over the years he has owned, driven, described and competed in many of the cars featured in this Landmark Rally Cars series, and his insight into their merits is unmatched.

Reviews

Review from Overdrive magazine, April 2007
Indian magazine

The Subaru Impreza is known the world over as a racing thoroughbred. Renowned auto historian Graham Robson and Veloce Publishing have put together an ode to the Impreza for aficionados to revel in.

The Subaru blue portrait splashed on the cover is an eye catcher. The birth of the Impreza is unveiled in elaborate detail with styling cues, engine details and a myriad aspects are laid out comprehensively.

The reader is treated to a stunning portfolio of photographs of the car in action, even as one is furnished with data on the competition the Impreza was up against.The Flat 4 engine, and how it gradually evolved has been elaborated on - a surefire highlight of the book.

Author Graham Robson has given the daredevils behind the wheel their due, with not just what they accomplished on track, but dispensing little known personal details as well.

Robson provides an overview of the Impreza era that began in 1993, the changes made to the car and how it all worked. But that's not all, as the reader is furnished insight into the Impreza successor as well. Robson spotlights the Impreza's victorious reign in an easy to decipher chart.

The volume also affords a canny glimpse into the world of rallying. The book acknowledges the sterling efforts of Prodrive of England, involved with works competition cars since advent, for furnishing the expertise and knowhow that paved the way to glory for the Impreza.

A must-have for Impreza fans.

The Motor Cycling Club Ltd (MCC), 2007
UK club newsletter

It's three for the price of one this time as I have been reading the Ford Escort Mk1, Subaru Impreza and Lancia Stratos in the Rally Giants series, written by Graham Robson and published by Veloce and thoroughly recommend all three volumes. Priced at $14.99, each has an interesting 8 x 8in format with about 125 pages containing lots of well chosen pictures, mostly in color, so looks impressive enough for the coffee table, yet due to the author's experience and attention to getting his facts right must have a place in the serious enthusiast's bookshelves, from whence they will frequently be taken as a source of reference.

What I really enjoyed most though is the way in which Graham has made a readable tale from what so easily could have been equally factual but totally boring. The author knew and worked in the rally world with the people and events he describes so brings out their characters and the behind the scenes action not always appreciated at the time.

Overdrive Magazine, "April 2007
"A must-have for Impreza fans."

Old Stager, May 2007
UK magazine
I constantly struggle to see the book that I'm looking for in the bookcase. So, I am delighted to see that the new series of Rally Giants by Graham Robson all have matching grey spines with the name of the featured car clearly marked.
Three have already been released by Veloce Publishing and feature the MkI Escort, Subaru Impreza and the Lancia Stratos.
The books each describe the birth of each 'rally giant' and the author chronicles the development, politics, successes and failures of the cars. The style and format offers an easy read and the ability to dip into each book as and when - one small criticism I have is that several of the side bars merely repeat parts of the main text, but that is only a small niggle.
There are plenty of excellent photos (both mono and color) and sections covering the personalities that shaped the various cars' development as well as the star drivers.
The best news though is that Graham Robson is working on another dozen or so books to include the Austin-Healey 3000 through to the WRC Ford Focus - I can't wait!

The Motor Cycling Club Ltd (MCC), 2007
UK club newsletter
It's three for the price of one this time as I have been reading the Ford Escort Mk1, Subaru Impreza and Lancia Stratos in the Rally Giants series, written by Graham Robson and published by Veloce and thoroughly recommend all three volumes. Priced at $14.99, each has an interesting 8 x 8in format with about 125 pages containing lots of well chosen pictures, mostly in color, so looks impressive enough for the coffee table, yet due to the author's experience and attention to getting his facts right must have a place in the serious enthusiast's bookshelves, from whence they will frequently be taken as a source of reference.
What I really enjoyed most though is the way in which Graham has made a readable tale from what so easily could have been equally factual but totally boring. The author knew and worked in the rally world with the people and events he describes so brings out their characters and the behind the scenes action not always appreciated at the time.

Review from Hot4s.com.au (Australia), May 2007
For nearly 20 years, Prodrive has run the works in regards to Subaru's rally prowess, including providing the expertise that has seen them storm the championship scene. As well as detailing this story, this book also provides a highly in-depth look at the Impreza itself, with full specifications and achievements of all the WRC models.
The compact book is chock-full of great color photos, many with the WRX seemingly airborne, and no doubt on its way to another victory. Text-wise, a good chunk of everything is devoted to a year-by-year breakdown of the car's achievements, with a car and team section up the front providing information on everything from the inspiration behind the model to its star drivers.
All that said if you're a rally buff, or just love Subaru's muscled-up monster, this is the perfect book for you to pursue.