Many would agree that the golden years of rallying were during the ’90s and early ’00s, with drivers and cars pushing themselves to the limit with a healthy dose of competition added to the mix. The battle between the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and the Subaru Impreza was just hotting up. The names of Richard Burns, Tommi Mäkinen and Colin McRae would often swap around at the head of the championship standings, while fans would brace the elements to capture a glimpse of their heroes flashing by.
Fast forward to today, and those same cars were either wrecked while racing or have been painstakingly restored. And even if kept unrestored, most ex-rally cars go through some form of decommissioning process that includes removing some of the tastier propriety bits and perhaps a spot of tidying up.
All of which makes this Collecting Cars listing all the more interesting. For sale is a genuine WRC-raced Subaru Impreza S6 WRC. It was piloted by the late, great Richard Burns and his co-driver Robert Reid. It was in this very same car that the duo won the Rally of Great Britain in 2000 — a victory that came against all odds. The Impreza was severely damaged following a severe accident in Rally Finland but was fixed up in time to remind the world what an immense talent Richard Burns was.
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What makes this car arguably the most original specimen in the world are the events before and after Rally GB. Chassis #11 was pre-purchased earlier in the year. But instead of having the car tidied up by Prodrive, the new owner decided that they’d like to collect the Impreza straight from Margam Country Park right as the last round of the championship concluded.
Upon taking the car from the track, the new owner did not make any changes keeping all its battle scars, including the broken wing mirror and dented front wing, making it a true time capsule, resplendent in its as-raced form.
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The car changed hands over the years, being in private collections and treated as a piece of WRC history. It was sold in 2018 to its current owner and has been restored to perfect running condition. The car’s original engine and gearbox were carefully removed and inspected. Other original mechanical components such as the master brake cylinder, vented brake disks, and six-pot calipers saw a refresh too. However, the FIA tamper switches and the cheeky display mod that used to trick the scrutineers into thinking the car passed sound regulations by showing 1000 rpm lower than actual, remain intact.
Apart from the items that caused all the pops and bang in the Welsh forest on its final drive, the car also comes with Reid’s pace notes used on the last race and the Nokia mobile phone used for team communication in its cradle. It even features the energy bars and identification documents in the door bins. Also included is the original FIA gold logbook — a valuable piece of memorabilia in itself.
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The car has had its original gravel wheels and tires from the 2000 Great Britain rally removed for preservation. It currently sits on its bumpy tarmac setting and is fitted with works OZ alloys and tarmac tires.
Most recently, the Impreza WRC was shown to the public back in 2019. Given the historical significance and the close ties between Goodwood and The Richard Burns Foundation, the car was allowed its runs up the hill rather than on the rally stage. Driving duties at the festival were shared between the owner and none other than Alister McRae, brother of late WRC world champion Colin McRae.
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