The legend of Subaru’s all-wheel-drive excellence was, in many ways, cemented in the ’90s, when rally icons like Colin McRae drove the Impreza to world rally championship titles. Now, one of his cars is being offered at auction.
This Subaru Impreza S5 WRC “P2 WRC,” which first competed at the 1997 Monte Carlo Rally driven by McRae and his co-driver Nicky Grist, is being sold by Silverstone Auctions. Unfortunately, an accident meant a DNF for the car and the drivers at that event, which was their first and only competition together.
Originally fitted to chassis number 3, P2 WRC was later fitted to Prodrive Chassis 21 and raced around Europe to much success. Campaigned by a private team between 1998 and 2000, it scored a number of wins and earned the Hungarian Championship title in 1998 and 1999.
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Between 2001 and 2002, the Impreza returned to the U.K. and campaigned occasionally, before its current owner bought it in 2004 and raced it in a number of rallies between 2005 and 2007, earning strong results against much newer machinery.
At some point, the blue-and-gold weapon was converted to right-hand-drive to better compete in rallies on the British Isles, though it can still be converted back to left-hand-drive if its next owner so wishes. Although it has been in competition throughout the years, meaning it is anything but factory fresh, the Subaru rally car is described to be in good condition, according to the sellers.
The engine and gearbox were rebuilt just a few hundred miles ago, and for the last seven years, it was prepared and run by EJM Preperations. Despite its age, it has recently made numerous public appearances, including winning the Wethersfield Stages Rally in 2016 and 2017 and appearing at Race Retro in 2020.
Although this Subaru may not win a concours event, the new owner doesn’t have to feel guilty about driving or, better yet, racing it.
“P2 WRC is a well-known 2-door Subaru WRC car and very desirable in its own right,” said Harry Wales, of Silverstone Auctions. “It has certainly lived a busy and fascinating life and in our opinion is all the better for it. It’s been well cared-for in private ownership for almost 20 years and combined with its links to the great Colin McRae, this really is a very rare opportunity to continue the fascinating story of P2 WRC.”
Those who are interested in the car can bid on it at Silverstone Auctions’ upcoming Stoneleigh Park event, which will run on February 25. Estimates suggest that it may sell for between £340,000 and £380,000 ($418,761-468,027 USD at current exchange rates).
