Subaru Impreza WRC (1997–2000)
Prodrive's Impreza WRC97 launched the World Rally Car era in style: the blue-and-gold two-door won its debut season's manufacturers' title, gave Colin McRae his most iconic drives, and defined rallying's late-90s image.
History
The 555-liveried Group A Impreza had already delivered Subaru's first titles (manufacturers' 1995–96, McRae's 1995 drivers' crown) when the World Rally Car rules of 1997 freed designers from strict homologation. Prodrive's response — the WRC97 — took the two-door Impreza shell and added wide tracks, a bigger turbo with anti-lag, aerodynamic freedom and a semi-automatic gearbox development path, all around the classic EJ20 flat-four and permanent 4WD.
The car won its very first event (Monte Carlo 1997, Liatti) and carried Subaru to a third consecutive manufacturers' title that year. Through 1998–2000 evolutions (WRC98, 99, 2000) the McRae–Burns era played out in these cars: McRae's impossible saves and Burns' metronomic speed made the Impreza the most televised rally car of its generation, before the new-shape 'bugeye' took over in 2001 en route to Burns' title.
Prodrive built each chassis in Banbury with full build records — the basis of today's collector market, where ex-works Imprezas with documented McRae or Burns history have become the most valuable modern-era rally cars, trading at levels once reserved for Group B royalty.
Palmarès
Manufacturers' champion 1997 (Subaru's third straight); 10+ WRC wins across 1997–2000 including Monte Carlo, Safari, Acropolis, Rally GB; McRae's 1997 near-title (lost by two points) and Burns' rise to 1999–2000 front-running; plus the platform's overall haul — three manufacturers' and one drivers' title in the Group A/WRC families' combined era.
What to check before you buy
Prodrive's chassis plates and build books authenticate every genuine car — 'P' numbers are traceable, and the McRae/Burns provenance premium makes verification existential. Check which evolution the car sits at (97/98/99/2000 aero and transmission differ), whether the engine is a period EJ20 works unit or a later service replacement, and the anti-lag system's supporting hardware. Many genuine cars were re-liveried or updated in period; the build record reconciles it. Recreations on road shells are common and fine at their price point — but a genuine Prodrive car without papers doesn't exist.
Did you know
- The 555 livery came from a BAT cigarette brand sold mainly in Asia — the sponsorship made Subaru's blue-and-gold so canonical that road cars still ship in tribute colours.
- McRae's 'if in doubt, flat out' era Imprezas popularized anti-lag's gunshot exhaust cracks — the sound that defined 90s rallying for a TV generation.
- Prodrive tested an electro-hydraulic paddle-shift in the WRC97 era years before it became rallying's norm — some chassis carry the provision points.
In the marketplace now
View all →No exact Subaru Impreza WRC (1997–2000) listed right now — here is closely related machinery on the market.
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