Subaru made an increasingly massive commitment to rallying starting in 1990 with the Legacy, but it was with the Impreza GT GC8 series (in certain markets known as the Impreza WRX) that the Japanese brand definitively established itself in the rally scene. With the WRX version (2 liter turbo, all-wheel drive) Subaru took a step forward compared to the Legacy, also taking advantage of Lancia's withdrawal. Already from its debut in 1993 the Impreza demonstrated all its potential with Ari Vatanen, second in the 1000 Lakes Rally. First in Japan, then in the rest of the markets, Subaru introduced the acronym STi (Subaru Technical International), which characterized a whole series of mechanical and aerodynamic developments and improvements, which led to continuous evolutions of the Impreza Group A. The 1994 season was excellent, with Sainz and McRae and starting from 1995 it was a whole series of successes, one more important than the other. At the end of the 1996 season, the Group A version of the Impreza gave way to the WRC configuration.
Kyosho was founded in Japan in 1963 and began producing RC model cars in 1970, becoming one of the world's leading manufacturers in this sector. Since 1992 the company also began to appear in the world of diecasts, with products in various scales, including 1:43 and 1:18. The Kyosho models, made in China, are very well detailed, with opening parts and accurate reproduction of mechanics and interiors.