Subaru World Rally Team Signs Frenchman Stephane Sarrazin for 2005

Stephane Sarrazin of France will drive for Subaru in the 2005 world rally championship, Subaru World Rally Team announced recently. Sarrazin turned to rally car racing after five seasons as a Formula One test driver with Prost and Toyota.

"We've been very impressed by what Sarrazin has done this year," said Subaru WRX Rally Team boss David Lapworth. "It's remarkable that someone who has done 11 rallies and only three at WRC level can run at the pace he has. We've signed Stephane for one year but the intention of our development programme is to find a future world champion. We've selected him because we think he's got what it takes."

Sarrazin will teaming up with 2003 world rally car champion Petter Solberg of Norway. Subaru said that Sarrazin would compete in at least half of the 16 championship events next year, starting with Monte Carlo in January.

The Frenchman won this year's French national rally championship in his first try and competed in some other events after securing funding from the French motorsport association and Subaru France. Sarrazin made his mark when he drove his privately-entered Subaru to fourth place in the Rally of Catalunya in October, beating out Solberg. "It's really a very big chance for me. After one year in rallying it's a great opportunity," said Sarrazin, a former national karting champion who has also twice entered the Le Mans 24 Hours sportscar race.

"This year I pushed a lot to improve myself... and now it's just incredible to be in the official team. I will push the same as this year to improve, I will give the maximum I can -- they gave me a big chance, and because this team is the top team in the World Championship it's exceptional."