Demand from fans drives Subaru's web upgrade

Car manufacturer Subaru's world rally team has revamped its web activities to cope with a growing demand from fans for information.

The Subaru World Rally Team (SWRT) has signed a deal with web site hosting firm Verio Europe, allowing it to use new technologies and support services to boost its online presence.

The original web site was developed three years ago as a way of communicating with the media, as well as with fans and other interested rally followers.

But the site has become increasingly popular with rally fans, putting considerable strain on bandwidth provided under its previous hosting deal.

Subaru has a 50,000-strong subscriber base with as many as two-and-a-half million fans visiting the site during rally championships, says SWRT commercial manager Colin Clarke.

'Rally fans are so hungry for information about the team and the web site has become more and more popular,' said Clarke.

'SWRC.com is the most visited site of any rally team in the championship and even more popular than some Formula One sites.'

Verio Europe is now hosting the site, while sales and marketing teams at SWRT manage its content.

Clarke says the team has managed to future-proof its technology base, as well as maintaining high connectivity and bandwidth, security and stability. It can also draw on Verio's expertise in helping develop innovative new features.

The site now handles merchandise transactions, and provides news on the team's progress. Clarke says the team is now looking at making some of the site content available through other mobile devices.

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