A PEEK IN THE PERFORMANCE ATTIC - PART FOUR
Subaru of America, Inc. displayed a Japanese-spec Impreza based on Colin McRae’s WRC rally car at auto shows starting in 1994.
AMONG THE SUBARU PERFORMANCE VEHICLES STORED IN ITS “MUSEUM” ARE TWO BLUE SUBARU IMPREZA RALLY SHOW CARS FROM THE 1990S. THEY MARK THE ERA OF COLIN MCRAE DRIVING FOR SUBARU IN THE WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP.
Near the Subaru of America, Inc. headquarters in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, the company stores a number of performance vehicles important to its history. We call this the attic because the vehicles that have been housed there are much like important items you would keep in an attic. Along with Subaru performance cars previously featured in Drive Performance (Impreza 22B STi Coupe, Justy land speed record-holder, and SVX PPG Pace Car) are two Impreza rally show cars.
Colin McRae (right) and Nicky Grist celebrate victory on the podium, Tour de Corse 1998.
AUTO SHOW RALLY CARS
From 1994 through 1998, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) displayed two Impreza models wearing Subaru World Rally Championship (WRC) markings. The purpose of bringing the two Japanese-spec cars to the United States was to promote the presence of Subaru in the WRC as well as to gauge interest in Impreza performance cars for the U.S. market. It was a significant time for Subaru, during which it won WRC Manufacturers’ Championship titles three years in a row – 1995-1997.
SOA imported the two Impreza cars to display them in Subaru booths at top American auto shows such as New York, Chicago, and Detroit. The Impreza model was introduced into international rallying in 1993, but not many U.S. consumers were familiar with the WRC. SOA used the show cars to help determine if consumers in America would be receptive to the Impreza WRX model.
The four-door Impreza reflects the WRC car campaigned between 1994 and 1996. The two-door model was the basis for the WRC car in 1997 and 1998.
THE COLIN MCRAE YEARS
Colin McRae’s importance to Subaru came as the result of his five-year stint with the Subaru World Racing Team. Between 1994 and 1998, McRae was a constant for the Subaru team. He won the WRC Drivers’ Championship only once, but his top-four Championship finishes along with the contributions of his teammates during the other four years earned enough points to win the WRC Manufacturers’ Championship three times for Subaru. After those five years, no one doubted the capabilities of Subaru vehicles.
The 2-door Impreza “STi” displayed until 1998 helped gauge consumer reaction to Impreza performance models.
SHOW TIME
The two Impreza auto show cars are RA models, but the newer two-door has STi features from the late 1990s. Both cars have team “swish” graphics and roof-mounted cabin vents. Engines are turbocharged and intercooled.
Inside, the cars are configured with right-hand drive and manual gearboxes.
Specifications for the two-door model were found on a handout that was still in its glovebox.
REMINDERS
Although these aren’t the actual cars driven to victory by Carlos Sainz, McRae, Kenneth Eriksson, and Piero Liatti, they serve as reminders of Subaru WRC racing heritage. Part of forming the basis for deciding to import the WRX and WRX STi to the United States, these two Impreza auto show cars are important to the history of SOA.
| WRC YEAR | NUMBER OF SUBARU WINS | SUBARU DRIVERS IN THE WRC DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP | SUBARU IN THE WRC MANUFACTURERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP |
| 1994 | 3 | 2 – Carlos Sainz 4 – Colin McRae | Toyota Subaru Ford Mitsubishi |
| 1995 | 5 | 1 – Colin McRae 2 – Carlos Sainz 8 – Piero Liatti 9 – Richard Burns | Subaru Mitsubishi Ford |
| 1996 | 3 | 2 – Colin McRae 4 – Kenneth Eriksson 5 – Piero Liatti | Subaru Mitsubishi Ford |
| 1997 | 8 | 2 – Colin McRae 5 – Kenneth Eriksson 6 – Piero Liatti | Subaru Ford Mitsubishi |
| 1998 | 3 | 3 – Colin McRae 7 – Piero Liatti | Mitsubishi Toyota Subaru Ford SEAT |
| SUBARU WRX RA STI | |
| Engine: | 1,994 cc horizontally opposed “boxer” DOHC 16-valve (sodium-filled exhaust valves) (3.624 in x 2.955 in) 8.5:1 compression |
| Fuel System: | sequential multi-point |
| Induction: | IHI turbocharger air-to-air intercooler with driver-controlled water injected cooling spray |
| Suspension: | MacPherson strut (F/R) one-piece forged alloy lower L-arm (F) longitudinal and transverse links (R) |
| Drive System: | All-Wheel Drive (35/65 torque split; planetary gear-type, manually adjustable) short-throw 5-speed manual transmission 1st 3.454 2nd 2.333 3rd 1.750 4th 1.354 5th 0.972 reverse 3.416 final 3.900 (LSD) |
| Brakes: | ventilated discs (F/R) 4-pot calipers |
| Steering: | power-assisted rack-and-pinion 13:1 ratio |
| Body: | aluminum-alloy hood carbon-fiber strut tower support (developed by FHI Aerospace) |
| Dimensions: | Length: 171.0 in Width: 66.6 in Height: 55.4 in Wheelbase: 99.3 in Weight: 2,646 lb |