SUBARU WRC HISTORY GOES ON SALE IN AUSTRALIA
Subaru WRC history goes on sale – Image: LAT
A part of World Rally Championship history has hit the marketplace and is located right here in Australia.
By HEATH McALPINE
The car in question, a Prodrive-built Subaru Impreza WRX, is chassis #004 from 1993, the first year for the model in the WRC. This chassis is one of the few remaining in close to original condition from the era and kicked off a golden period for the Japanese marque.
After limited success with the Legacy RS (or Liberty in Australia), Subaru transitioned to the WRX for the 1993 1000 Lakes Rally in Finland where #001 – a test and homologation car driven by Markku Alen – and #004 debuted by Ari Vatanen.
Vatanen with co-driver Bruno Bergland finished a remarkable second on the WRX’s debut, even leading the event before a fogged-up windscreen occurred during the night stages allowing Toyota’s Juha Kankkunen to take a lead he held to the finish.
In what is regarded as one of Vatanen’s best performances, the Finn in his new Subaru trailed his countryman by 47s by rally’s end.
The chassis achieved a rally win in the Memorial Bettega with Colin McRae behind the wheel, while Carlos Sainz and Richard Burns both took turns during 1994-1995.
In 1996, this very chassis made history on Australian shores by delivering the late Possum Bourne the first of his seven national rally titles, being recommissioned as PRO/STI 93.004.
After rallying in New Zealand, plus a stint in Italy where it mostly sat idle, before long-time Possum friend and fan Robbie McLean bought the Subaru.
“It used to be win a rally on Sunday, sell the cars on Monday and that’s what was happening all around the world,” McLean told Auto Action. “When the Imprezas started winning with names like Vatanen, McRae, Burns and Bourne, people just wanted to go out and buy these WRXS.
“You can do the exhaust and make them sound the same, they were just incredible. The thing about the 555 team, there’s a bit of a cult following.”
It was a painstaking project for McLean, who made sure he installed the right components, including employing the same decal designer to provide the artwork the WRX was fitted with back in 1993.
Another feature is the famous L 555 BAT number plate, which went onto great success with McRae, but was initially fitted to Vatanen’s entry as the Finn used it on the Impreza’s debut.
Bourne only drove chassis #004 for only a short time after his original mount was written off at Rally New Zealand. He used it to seal his first ARC title before selling it off to a New Zealand competitor, though this all happened when McLean was completing building work at Bourne’s workshop.
“The car’s sitting at the workshop and Possum comes up to the lunchroom,” recalls McLean. “He says ‘I’m going to take the car out to Maramarua Forest for a lowkey drive, are you guys keen to come out?’ I said I was keen, he asked if I had my camera and if I took the photos, I’ll pay for your films, so I accepted.
“There was only Richard Rowland (Possum’s workshop manager), Don Fenwick (Possum’s manager at the time), myself and a couple of people. We had four tyres, one drum of Elf fuel and I tried taking photos.
“At the end of the day, Possum said ‘Come on Robbie, it’s your turn’ and I still remember the acceleration of that car. My eyeballs were in the back seat!
“It was the best day!”
McLean has completed limited running in the car, which is currently on display at the National Motor Racing Museum at Bathurst.
Now, McLean believes is time for a new passionate owner to be found,
For more of the latest motorsport news pick up the current issue of Auto Action. Also make sure you follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or our weekly email newsletter for all the latest updates between issues.
