The Legacy was the first rally Subaru developed by Dave Richards's Banbury based Prodrive concern and 1992 was the year both car and team became true contenders. Richards had won the World Rally Championship as Vatanen's co-driver in 1982 and hired his friend to lead the team. Vatanen proved he had lost none of his speed and was denied two likely victories in New Zealand and Australia by mechanical failures. A second in the season closing RAC Rally was the year's best result but a fine fourth place on his home event in Finland, only 2min 32secs behind Auriol's winning Lancia, was the most impressive.