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Records

ARVW 1980 World Land Speed Records

The Vision of Aerodynamic Research Volkswagen 

The basis of this new two-seated championship would be the Van Diemen Multisport chassis (see image). The car was popular in the UK racing scene where it was often fitted with a Ford 1.6 litre engine, but this new series would instead use Subaru engines and gearboxes.

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This decision was made partly due to Keke’s existing marketing agreement with Subaru importer Aro-Yhtymä Oy, but also because using a Subaru engine had performance benefits. Taken from the Subaru Legacy the 2.2-litre engine was more powerful than the ubiquitous Ford and being a boxer engine had a lower centre of gravity. The two-wheeled-drive gearbox from the Subaru Legacy was also utilised.

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A prototype was displayed at the AUTO-89 exhibition in the spring of 1989 with the car and series officially named SubaruSport. At the same time the AKK approved the championship and appointed a working group to liaise with Palotie and Rosberg so the series could begin in 1990. An order was placed for 16 cars through Aro-Yhtymä for arrival in 1990. Van Diemen then began development at their Snetterton base (Norfolk, UK), grafting the Subaru drivetrain into their existing Multisport model.

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Image Source:

Volkswagen © Copyright

Team

An order was placed for 16 cars through Aro-Yhtymä for arrival in 1990. Van Diemen then began development at their Snetterton base (Norfolk, UK), grafting the Subaru drivetrain into their existing Multisport model.

Car Specifications

An order was placed for 16 cars through Aro-Yhtymä for arrival in 1990. Van Diemen then began development at their Snetterton base (Norfolk, UK), grafting the Subaru drivetrain into their existing Multisport model.

Breaking Records at the Nardo Ring

An order was placed for 16 cars through Aro-Yhtymä for arrival in 1990. Van Diemen then began development at their Snetterton base (Norfolk, UK), grafting the Subaru drivetrain into their existing Multisport model. The first tests of the new car were carried out by Palotie and Rosberg at the Snetterton track on October 16th 1989.

​

The basis of this new two-seated championship would be the Van Diemen Multisport chassis (see image). The car was popular in the UK racing scene where it was often fitted with a Ford 1.6 litre engine, but this new series would instead use Subaru engines and gearboxes. This decision was made partly due to Keke’s existing marketing agreement with Subaru importer Aro-Yhtymä Oy, but also because using a Subaru engine had performance benefits. Taken from the Subaru Legacy the 2.2-litre engine was more powerful than the ubiquitous Ford and being a boxer engine had a lower centre of gravity. The two-wheeled-drive gearbox from the Subaru Legacy was also utilised.

​

A prototype was displayed at the AUTO-89 exhibition in the spring of 1989 with the car and series officially named SubaruSport. At the same time the AKK approved the championship and appointed a working group to liaise with Palotie and Rosberg so the series could begin in 1990.

Nardò_ring.jpg

Image Source:

NASA via Wiki Commons

Official World Records

A prototype was displayed at the AUTO-89 exhibition in the spring of 1989 with the car and series officially named SubaruSport.

  • fastest lap in Nardò, with a speed of 362.07 km/h 

  • 6.0 litres of diesel over 100 kilometres – at a speed of 250 

  • 500-kilometre record distance in just 87 minutes at an average speed of 345.26 km/h 

  • the fastest diesel vehicle in the world (at the time)

  • one hour with a standing start (353.88 km/h)

  • 219.598 miles in one hour

Keke_Rosberg_Williams_FW10_1985_German_GP.jpg

"It was just plain silly to go and play again...
But I just couldn’t resist it because I thought
we could go a lot quicker - and we did..."

Keke Rosberg on his Silverstone 160mph average lap

1985 F1 Silverstone Qualifying

A Damp Track and a Flat Tyre at 160mph

The basis of this new two-seated championship would be the Van Diemen Multisport chassis (see image). The car was popular in the UK racing scene where it was often fitted with a Ford 1.6 litre engine, but this new series would instead use Subaru engines and gearboxes. This decision was made partly due to Keke’s existing marketing agreement with Subaru importer Aro-Yhtymä Oy, but also because using a Subaru engine had performance benefits. Taken from the Subaru Legacy the 2.2-litre engine was more powerful than the ubiquitous Ford and being a boxer engine had a lower centre of gravity. The two-wheeled-drive gearbox from the Subaru Legacy was also utilised.

​

A prototype was displayed at the AUTO-89 exhibition in the spring of 1989 with the car and series officially named SubaruSport. At the same time the AKK 

Silverstone_Circuit_1975_to_1986.png

​

An order was placed for 16 cars through Aro-Yhtymä for arrival in 1990. Van Diemen then began development at their Snetterton base (Norfolk, UK), grafting the Subaru drivetrain into their existing Multisport model. The first tests of the new car were carried out by Palotie and Rosberg at the Snetterton track on October 16th 1989.

​

The basis of this new two-seated championship would be the Van Diemen Multisport chassis (see image). The car was popular in the UK racing scene where it was often fitted with a Ford 1.6 litre engine, but this new series would instead use Subaru engines and gearboxes. This decision was made partly due to Keke’s existing marketing agreement with Subaru importer Aro-Yhtymä Oy, but also because using a Subaru engine had performance benefits. Taken from the Subaru Legacy the 2.2-litre engine was more powerful than the ubiquitous Ford and being a boxer engine had a lower centre of gravity. The two-wheeled-drive gearbox from the Subaru Legacy was also utilised.

The Fastest Average Lap for 17 Years

A prototype was displayed at the AUTO-89 exhibition in the spring of 1989 with the car and series officially named SubaruSport. 

  • 4th closest Grand Prix finish (0.05 seconds) - Austrian GP 1982 

  • Last winner of a non championship race (1983 Race of Champions

Full List of Records & Achievements

Formula 1 

  • 4th closest Grand Prix finish (0.05 seconds) - Austrian GP 1982 

  • Last winner of a non championship race (1983 Race of Champions)

  • 1st Finnish F1 Grand Prix race winner

  • 1st Finnish F1 Grand Prix pole

  • 1st Finnish F1 Grand Prix world drivers champion

  • 1st Finnish F1 Grand Prix podium

  • 1st Finnish F1 Grand Prix points scorer

  • 1st Finnish F1 Grand Prix fastest lap

  • Final Formula 1 Drivers Championship won using a Ford Cosworth DFV engine

Circuits

  • Ahvenisto Lap Record - 

  • Fastest lap record for 1975-1986 Silverstone GP circuit (1m05.591 - 1985 British GP)

World Land Speed Records

  • fastest lap in Nardò, with a speed of 362.07 km/h

  • 6.0 litres of diesel over 100 kilometres – at a speed of 250 

  • 500-kilometre record distance in just 87 minutes at an average speed of 345.26 km/h 

  • the fastest diesel vehicle in the world (at the time)

  • one hour with a standing start (353.88 km/h)

  • 219.598 miles in one hour

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