Burns’ 1999 Subaru Impreza WRC99, estimated to reach £520,000 – at Bonhams Goodwood Members’ Meeting Sale
In the 1990s, the Subaru Impreza was one of the most successful, important and the most famous rally cars of its era, its blue and yellow livery familiar even to non-rally fans and its drivers such as Colin McRae becoming household names.
A 1999 WRC edition, driven by future World Rally Champion, the late Richard Burns on his return to the Subaru team, will be offered at the Bonhams Goodwood Members’ Meeting Sale on 16 April. It has an estimate of £430,000-520,000.
Following the introduction of the new Impreza Turbo model in 1993, Subaru and technical partner Prodrive dominated the rally championship, scoring no fewer than 46 rally victories and 122 podium finishes, while claiming six World Rally Championships, including three consecutive constructors’ titles from 1995-97.
In 1997, freed from the previous Group A regulations, a new car was designed from the ground up, led by Prodrive’s Technical Director David Lapworth, with its exterior styling by Peter Stevens of McLaren F1 fame. Two years later, the Impreza was further developed and refined with the addition of a paddle-actuated semi-automatic gearbox, a new active Hewland rear differential and a larger IHI RX6 turbocharger with adjustable anti-lag.
This car, ‘T15 SRT’ was built to campaign the 1999/2000 Rally World Championship with its crew of Richard Burns and co-driver Robert Reid, now FIA Deputy-President for sport. Its first competition appearance was in the 1999 Rally Sanremo where it was running in 5th place before retiring due to a transmission failure. The following January, the Burns/Reid crewed Impreza entered the 68th Ralley Automobile de Monte-Carlo, finishing the first day second overall, although ignition issues, following an extremely cold night, ended its campaign, as well as that of the rival Peugeot team.
Burns would go on to become the 1999 and 2000 Driver’s Championship runner-up before claiming the world title in 2001.
Meanwhile, the Impreza was sold by Prodrive to French rally driver Armando Pereira, the first of several drivers who drove it to victory in French and Belgian rallies, including the French Gravel Championship.
Acquired by its current keeper in 2018, the Impreza was the subject of a five-year no-expense-spared restoration, using rare and original parts, including carbon-fibre seats and finished with its 2000 Monte Carlo Rally livery, complete with Magnesium wheels. The car has been authenticated by an accompanying Prodrive Legends report which states that it ‘overall is a very good sound example.” Lamp pod lights, a second set of wheels and spares package are included as part of the Lot along with the FIA Gold book.
1999 Subaru Impreza WRC99, estimate £430,000-520,000
Tim Schofield, Head of Department, Bonhams Collector Cars UK, said: “This is a rare opportunity to acquire a genuine works rally car – of which few examples are offered on the open market – produced by one of the most successful and iconic teams in rallying history.”
The Goodwood Members’ Meeting Sale will offer a number of former high-level motorsport campaigners including a ‘big’ Healey which won the epic 1960 Liège-Rome-Liège rally with Pat Moss at the wheel; one of the Monte Carlo Minis which won the team title in 1964; a Formula 1 Single Seater from the celebrated V10 era and a works 1947 HRG Le Mans Lightweight Sports which contested the 1949 edition of the 100 year- old endurance race.
Ninety-nine collector cars, many with a sporting character and representing all eras, will go under the hammer on Sunday 16 April, from a 1901 Renault 4½hp Type D Rear-Entrance Tonneau with Canopy (estimate £65,000-75,000) and a 1931 Bentley 8-Litre Le Mans-style Tourer (£550,000-650,000), the ‘silent 100mph’ motor car, to a c.2010 Mosler MT900S Coupé supercar (£150,000-200,000) which has covered circa 9,000 miles from new, and a 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 3.0-Litre Drophead Coupé Project (£70,000-120,000) to a stunning 1972 Porsche 911S 2.4-Litre ‘Ölklappe’ Coupé (£175,000-225,000).
The sale will be livestreamed via bonhams.com and goodwood.com and on the Bonhams App. Absentee and telephone bids are also encouraged.
