MANY famous car manufacturers have been represented over the course of 63-plus years of ATCC/Supercars Championship competition, but Subaru is one not commonly remembered.
It’s with good reason, too.
The Japanese marque has just a single race start to its credit in championship history.
That came almost exactly 50 years ago at Wanneroo Raceway, the very site of Round 3 of the 2023 Repco Supercars Championship this weekend, making it a fitting moment to reflect on a rarity.
Elemer Vajda was the driver behind the wheel of the #81 Subaru FF1, taking on the likes of Peter Brock, Allan Moffat and Ian Geoghegan.
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Vajda, originally from Hungary before settling Down Under, was a staple of WA’s Street Car class throughout the 1970s.
His Subaru was one of only 12 of its kind to come to Australia, its sole ATCC start coming on May 6 in 1973.
Well and truly outgunned for pace, Vajda qualified last, his 1:33.5s a remarkable 25.2 seconds off the time which earned Brock pole position aboard his Holden Dealer Team Torana XU-1.
Moffat and his Ford Falcon XY GTHO went on to pip Brock over the course of 35 racing laps, as Vajda crossed the line nine laps down in 11th place, collecting two championship points in the process.
Moffat went on to win the title while Subaru never raced again at ATCC level.
