Since 1984 we have won six World Rally titles, four Le Mans 24 Hours titles, three FIA WEC titles, four British Touring Car Championships and the Le Mans Series among many other national and international race and rally series. Find out more about our motorsport heritage, achievements and championship successes.
MOTORSPORT HERITAGE
On 27 January 1984, Prodrive competed in and won its first ever event, the Qatar International Rally, the first round on the inaugural FIA Middle East Rally Championship. The Porsche 911 SC RS driven by local Qatari driver Saeed Al Hajri went on to win the 1984 MERC, while Henri Toivonen campaigned the same car in the European Rally Championship. 30 years later and we have competed in 1144 events (472 rallies and 672 races); winning 271 of them (132 rallies and 139 races) and finishing on the podium a further 459 times (182 rallies and 277).
Perhaps the most iconic moment in the company’s history was Colin McRae’s victory on the RAC Rally in 1995, making him Britain’s first World Rally champion and bringing Subaru the first of three consecutive manufacturers' titles. We brought further WRC titles for Richard Burns in 2001 and Petter Solberg in 2003.
While Prodrive is often best known for its 19 year association with Subaru, around half of all our 871 rally car starts were made with other manufacturers including Porsche, MG, BMW and MINI. Indeed, we first competed in the WRC in 1984 at the Acropolis and would win our first WRC event in a privately-entered BMW driven by Bernard Beguin at the Tour de Corse in 1987.
Before our focus on the WRC in the early 1990s, we had already won three British Rally Championships, two Middle East Rally Championships, two Belgian titles and two French and would go on to win four Asia-Pacific titles during the 1990s with Subaru as well as the SCCA Pro Rally Championship in the USA.
Prodrive’s success in rallying is mirrored by our success in circuit racing, a discipline we started in 1987 by running BMW’s entry in the British Touring Car Championship. In 1988, in his first full season, Frank Sytner won the BTCC title outright, and then the team took class B titles in 1989 and 1990. After six seasons with BMW, we went on to run manufacturer programmes for Alfa Romeo, Honda and finally Ford, bringing the blue oval its final BTCC title in 2000 with the Mondeo, at the end of the Super Touring Car era.
In 2001, we turned our hand to sports cars, re-engineering the Ferrari 550 Maranello into a successful GT car and securing the ultimate accolade in sports car racing, by winning the GT class at Le Mans in 2003. This was a feat we were to repeat in 2007 and 2008 with the Aston Martin DBR9 and then in 2014 with the Vantage GTE through a full works programme with the iconic British manufacturer, a partnership which continues to this day.
While we were competing in sports cars from our Banbury base, in Australia we were running the factory Ford Performance Racing team in the V8 Supercar Series. After 10 seasons, and finishing as runners up on four occasions, we sold the team at the end of 2012.
Some of the greatest names in rallying and racing have driven for Prodrive over the years. The 55 rally drivers include 11 World Rally champions such as: McRae , Kankkunen, Vatanen, Alen, Mikkola, Sainz, Auriol, Burns, Solberg, Makinen and Gronholm. These drivers were supported by 66 co-drivers. The 108 racing drivers include all the best touring and sports car drivers including Sytner, Menu, Tarquini, Weaver, Hoy, Rydell, Thompson, Lowndes, Brabham and Turner as well as F1 stars like Villeneuve, Warwick, Palmer, Lamy, Salo, Verstappen and Davidson. While some, including Colin McRae, Warwick and Sarrazin, drove in both categories, McRae taking a podium at Le Mans in 2004.
MOTORSPORT RESULTS
2014
World Endurance Championship GT M - 3rd (Aston Martin Racing)
World Endurance Championship GTE Pro T - 3rd (Aston Martin Racing)
World Endurance Championship GTE Am T – 1st (Aston Martin Racing)
World Endurance Championship GT D – 5th (Turner/Mucke)
World Endurance Championship GTE Am D – 1st (Heinemeier Hansson/Poulsen)
Le Mans 24 Hours GTE Pro – 6th (Aston Martin Racing)
Le Mans 24 Hours GTE Am – 1st (Aston Martin Racing)
2013
World Endurance Championship GT M – 2nd (Aston Martin Racing)
World Endurance Championship GTE Pro T – 2nd (Aston Martin Racing)
World Endurance Championship GTE Am T – 2nd (Aston Martin Racing)
World Endurance Championship GT D – 3rd (Turner/Mucke)
World Endurance Championship GTE Am D – 1st (Campbell-Walter/Hall)
Le Mans 24 Hours GTE Pro – 3rd (Aston Martin Racing)
Le Mans 24 Hours GTE Am – 6th (Aston Martin Racing)
2012
FIA World Rally Championship D – 11th (Sordo)
Le Mans 24 Hours GTE Pro – 3rd (Aston Martin Racing)
World Endurance Championship GTE Pro Trophy – 2nd (Aston Martin Racing)
World Endurance Championship D – 33rd (Turner/Mucke)
Australian V8 Supercar Championship T – 2nd (Ford Performance Racing)
Australian V8 Supercar Championship D – 3rd (Winterbottom)
2011
FIA World Rally Championship D – 8th (Sordo)
Australian V8 Supercar Championship T – 2nd (Ford Performance Racing)
Australian V8 Supercar Championship D – 3rd (Winterbottom)
2010
Le Mans 24 Hours LMP1 – 5th (Aston Martin Racing)
Le Mans Series T – 6th (Aston Martin Racing)
Le Mans Series D – 15th (Mucke/Fernandez/Primat)
Australian V8 Supercar Championship T – 4th (Ford Performance Racing)
Australian V8 Supercar Championship D – 3rd (Winterbottom)
2009
Le Mans 24 Hours LMP1 – 4th (Aston Martin Racing)
Le Mans Series T – 1st (Aston Martin Racing)
Le Mans Series D – 1st (Mucke/Charouz/Enge)
Australian V8 Supercar Championship T – 4th (Ford Performance Racing)
Australian V8 Supercar Championship D – 5th (Winterbottom)
2008
FIA World Rally Championship M – 3rd (Subaru)
FIA World Rally Championship D – 5th (Atkinson)
Le Mans 24 Hours GT1 – 1st (Aston Martin Racing)
Le Mans 24 Hours LMP1 – 9th (Charouz Racing System/AMR)
Le Mans Series T – 5th (Aston Martin Racing)
Le Mans Series D – 9th (Mucke/Charouz)
Australian V8 Supercar Championship T – 2nd (Ford Performance Racing)
Australian V8 Supercar Championship D – 2nd (Winterbottom)
2007
FIA World Rally Championship M – 3rd (Subaru)
FIA World Rally Championship D – 5th (Solberg)
Le Mans 24 Hours GT1 – 1st (Aston Martin Racing)
Australian V8 Supercar Championship T – 4th (Ford Performance Racing)
Australian V8 Supercar Championship D – 5th (Winterbottom)
2006
FIA World Rally Championship M – 3rd (Subaru)
FIA World Rally Championship D – 6th (Solberg)
Le Mans 24 Hours GT1 – 2nd (Aston Martin Racing)
American Le Mans Series GT1 – 2nd (Aston Martin Racing)
Australian V8 Supercar Championship T – 2nd (Ford Performance Racing)
Australian V8 Supercar Championship D – 3rd (Winterbottom)
2005
FIA World Rally Championship M – 4th (Subaru)
FIA World Rally Championship D – 2nd (Solberg)
Le Mans 24 Hours GT1– 3rd (Aston Martin Racing)
American Le Mans Series GT1 – 5th (Aston Martin Racing)
FIA GT – 5th (Aston Martin Racing)
Australian V8 Supercar Championship T - 8th (Ford Performance Racing)
Australian V8 Supercar Championship D - 9th (Bright)
2004
FIA World Rally Championship M - 3rd (Subaru)
FIA World Rally Championship D – 2nd (Solberg)
Le Mans 24 Hours GT1 – 3rd (Prodrive Ferrari 550)
Australian V8 Supercar Championship - 15th (Seton/Ford Performance Racing)
2003
FIA World Rally Championship M - 3rd (Subaru)
FIA World Rally Championship D - 1st (Solberg)
SCCA ProRally Championship T - 2nd (Subaru Rally Team USA)
SCCA ProRally Championship D - 5th (Lagemann)
Le Mans 24 Hours GTS - 1st (Prodrive Ferrari 550)
American Le Mans Series GTS M - 2nd (Prodrive Ferrari 550)
Australian V8 Supercar Championship - 5th (Lowndes/Ford Performance Racing)
2002
FIA World Rally Championship M - 3rd (Subaru)
FIA World Rally Championship D - 2nd (Solberg)
SCCA ProRally Championship D - 3rd (Lovell)
SCCA ProRally Championship T - 2nd (Subaru Rally Team USA)
FIA European Touring Car Championship M - 3rd (Volvo)
FIA European Touring Car Championship D - 5th (Rydell)
American Le Mans Series GTS T – 5th (Prodrive Ferrari 550)
2001
FIA World Rally Championship M - 4th (Subaru)
FIA World Rally Championship D - 1st (Burns)
SCCA ProRally Championship D - 1st (Lovell)
SCCA ProRally Championship T - 1st (Subaru Rally Team USA)
FIA GT Championship T – 5th (Prodrive Ferrari 550)
2000
FIA World Rally Championship M - 3rd (Subaru)
FIA World Rally Championship D - 2nd (Burns)
British Touring Car Championship M - 1st (Ford)
British Touring Car Championship D - 1st (Menu)
1999
FIA World Rally Championship M - 2nd (Subaru)
FIA World Rally Championship D - 2nd (Burns)
British Touring Car Championship M - 6th (Ford)
British Touring Car Championship D - 11th (Menu)
1998
FIA World Rally Championship M - 3rd (Subaru)
FIA World Rally Championship D - 3rd (McRae)
British Touring Car Championship M - 4th (Honda)
British Touring Car Championship D – 3rd (Thompson)
1997
FIA World Rally Championship M - 1st (Subaru)
FIA World Rally Championship D - 2nd (Colin McRae)
FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship M - 1st (Subaru)
FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship D - 1st (Kenneth Erikkson)
British Touring Car Championship M - 3rd (Honda)
British Touring Car Championship D - 5th (James Thompson)
1996
FIA World Rally Championship M - 1st (Subaru)
FIA World Rally Championship D - 2nd (McRae)
FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship M - 2nd (Subaru)
FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship D - 1st (Eriksson)
1995
FIA World Rally Championship M - 1st (McRae)
FIA World Rally Championship D - 1st (Subaru)
FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship - 2nd (McRae)
British Touring Car Championship M - 8th (Alfa Romeo)
British Touring Car Championship D - 16th (Tarquini)
1994
FIA World Rally Championship M - 2nd (Subaru)
FIA World Rally Championship D - 2nd (Sainz)
FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship - 1st (Bourne)
1993
World Rally Championship D - 5th (McRae)
World Rally Championship M - 3rd (Subaru)
FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship - 1st (Bourne)
British Rally Championship - 1st (Burns)
1992
World Rally Championship D - 8th (Subaru)
World Rally Championship M - 4th (McRae)
British Rally Championship - 1st (McRae)
British Touring Car Championship - 8th (Sugden)
1991
World Rally Championship D - 8th (Alen)
World Rally Championship M - 6th (Subaru)
British Rally Championship - 1st (McRae)
British Touring Car Championship - 4th (Soper)
1990
French Rally Championship - 1st (Chatriot)
European Rally Championship - 5th (Chatriot)
World Rally Championship D - 14th (Bourne)
World Rally Championship M - 4th (Subaru)
British Touring Car Championship class B - 1st (2nd o/a) (Sytner)
1989
French Rally Championship - 1st (Chatriot)
Belgian Rally Championship - 1st (Duez)
European Rally Championship - 9th (Chatriot)
British Touring Car Championship class B - 1st (2nd o/a) (Weaver)
1988
European Rally Championship - 2nd (Snijers)
Belgian Rally Championship - 1st (Snijers)
French Rally Championship - 2nd (Beguin)
Italian Rally Championship - 2nd (Zanussi)
British Touring Car Championship - 1st (Sytner)
1987
French Rally Championship - 2nd (Beguin)
Middle East Rally Championship - 2nd (Al Hajri)
British Touring Car Championship class B - 3rd (Sytner)
1986
Middle East Rally Championship - 4th (Al Hajri)
British Rally Championship - 4th (McRae)
Irish Tarmac Championship – 2nd (Coleman)
1985
Middle East Rally Championship - 1st (Al Hajri)
European Rally Championship - 8th (Beguin)
French Rally Championship - 7th (Beguin)
Irish Tarmac Championship – 4th (Coleman)
1984
Middle East Rally Championship - 1st (Al Hajri)
European Rally Championship - 2nd (Toivonen)
Aston Martin Racing wins the GTE Am class at Le Mans
The #97 GTE Pro car at the WEC Sao Paulo
Dani Sordo flies at Rally New Zealand
Kris Meeke flies on the MINI JCW WRC's debut in Sardinia
Steve Richards in the Ford Performance Racing team at the Clipsal 500
At the Le Mans 24 Hours Aston Martin Racing was the fastest petrol powered car
Garcia, Brabham and Turner celebrate victory in the GT class for Aston Martin Racing
David Brabham crosses the finish line in the 009 DBR9 to take victory in the GT Class for Aston Martin Racing
Petter Solberg at Rally New Zealand
Aston Martin Racing wins on its debut at Sebring
Glenn Seton and the Ford Performance Racing team in the Australian V8 Supercar Series
Petter Solberg celebrates winning his World Rally title with Tommi Makinen
Prodrive leads the way at the Le Mans 24 Hours
Burns celebrates winning the World Rally Championship at Rally GB
Rickard Rydell wins at Croft in the British Touring Car Championship
Juha Kankkunen flies over the yumps on his way to winning Rally Finland
Colin McRae flies at Rally Australia
James Thompson in the British Touring Car Championship
Pierro Liatti flies at Rally Argentina
Colin McRae and the Subaru World Rally Team celebrate the double of drivers' and manufacturers' titles
Colin McRae on his way to victory at Rally New Zealand
Colin McRae at Rally New Zealand where he won his and Subaru's first WRC event
Colin McRae on his way to victory in the Vauxhall Rally in the British Rally Championship
Markku Alen at Rally New Zealand
Frank Sytner leads the field at Silverstone in the British Touring Car Championship
Francois Chatriot on his way to victory in Rallye d'Antibes in the French Rally Championship
Frank Sytner in the British Touring Car Championship
Bernard Beguin wins the Tour de Corse, Prodrive's first World Rally Championship event win
Jimmy McRae in the Group B car's last outing at the RAC Rally
Prodrive won the Pharoahs Rally, the only time it would compete with the 959
Saeed Al Hajri wins the Qatar Rally on Prodrive's motorsport debut on January 27 1984
30 YEAR GALLERY
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