Subaru hires Markko Martin as a test driver

Markko Martin has just been hired by Subaru as a test driver to support Petter Solberg and Chris Atkinson in the development of the new Impreza, which will appear during the season. The Estonian has not participated in a round of the World Championship since the death of his co-driver, Michael Park, during the 2005 Rally of Great Britain. He is returning to a team he knows, as he was a starter with Subaru in 2000 and 2001.

“For me, it’s a superb challenge,” smiles Markko. “It’s crucial for me to understand how the car needs to be, and to find a common language with the engineers. What’s harder than before is that I was used to setting up a car for myself, and now I must remember that it’s for other drivers. I think with fairly neutral preferences, so I hope it will more or less work well for everyone,” adds the Estonian.

Subaru wants to maximize its chances for the upcoming season with a revised and improved Impreza in order to return to the podiums after a disappointing 2007 season…