Subaru Canada resumes its battle for the Canadian Rally Championship (CRC) with the global debut of the all-new 2015 Subaru WRX STI on the rally circuit as Rallye Défi came to a close on September 6 in Ste-Agathe, Quebec.

Subaru Rally Team Canada (SRTC) entered this past weekend's event with a few aces: the team unveiled the all-new 2015 Subaru WRX STI rally car and unleashed a new driver/co-driver team to challenge the competition. SRTC driver Martin Rowe and co-driver Nathalie Richard clawed their way to a second-place finish in Rowe's first time competing at Rallye Défi. Rowe and Richard overcame niggling issues to secure the hard-fought podium spot; after winning two of the final three stages, the team climbed into second place on the final stage of the rally.

"We're bringing this car home in second place for its first rally ever and we're really happy about it," said Richard. "I'm really happy for everyone at Rocket Rally. They did an awesome job."

Created in conjunction with Rocket Rally Racing under the leadership of rally legend Pat Richard, the team's 2015 Subaru WRX STI is the first of its kind with an all-new platform and enhancements. Rowe's driving demonstrated the competitive potential of the new rally-prepared WRX STI.

"We've learned about the car; it's obviously the first rally," said Rowe. "It's been a really good weekend and it's great to be part of Subaru Canada. There's lots more to come with the car and the whole crew."

Rallye Défi marks the halfway point in the fight for the championship; the battle will continue with the Pacific Forest Rally on October 3-4, in Merritt, B.C.