1997 Subaru Impreza WRX STi Type R Version 4

The MY Impreza WRX STI Type R was introduced to the Japanese Domestic Market in January 1997 and remained available until August of that year. Utilising the two-door bodyshell it had several features aimed directly at homologation for rallying. This is the vehicle that Prodrive used for its Group N customer cars and was also the donor vehicle for the Group A WRC in 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000.

The two-door body is slightly stronger/stiffer than the four-door RA and a solid rear bulkhead increased torsional stiffness even further. Apart from the bodyshell, differences between the Type R and the JDM four-door STi models included a short-ratio gearbox, an adjustable Electromechanical Center Differential (DCCD), the absence of ABS, Intercooler water spray, two opposed pistons on the rear brake calipers (instead of four) and some cosmetic differences like rear tinted glass, a radio/aerial delete, Oxford Blue dash clocks and the 555 SWRT seats. The Type R was also the first Impreza STi to have a high-rise rear spoiler and colour-matched side skirts, the standard STI models only benefitted from the larger spoiler and coded side-skirts the following year.

Gear ratios of the Type R and Type RA were much shorter than those of the standard STi (which themselves are lower than those of the British model) and the 1997 Type R's fifth gear is actually shorter than the British Impreza's fourth.

Our vendor is well-known within the word of motorsport having competed in Formula Ford, F3, BSCC, BTCC and Le Mans plus many, many years taking part in club circuit racing and rallies all over Europe in everything from a little Healey to a well-sorted 911. Having started life as a fine art dealer and author, he graduated to financial management, and it was with this hat on that he met the late Richard Burns. They rapidly formed a firm friendship, and before long, he became one of the three members of Richard’s management team helping him run various aspects of his busy life until his premature passing in late 2005. He was working with Richard during the 2000 WRC season, when he and Robert Reid managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, and during the victorious 2001 season when Richard took the Driver’s Title home. I understand that the celebrations lasted several days, and it was with somewhat poignant memories of those happy days that our vendor chose to add this Bluebaru Type R to his small collection when it became available in 2010.

This Type R, GC8056980, was one of the 20 cars provided by Subaru in early 1997 for their rally team, Prodrive, to use for their 1997 and 1998 World Rally Championship campaign. Prodrive worked their magic on this select group of Subarus and converted them to WRC-spec cars for team and customer entries plus a small number of Recce cars. We understand that 12 were prepared to Group A regulations, four for Group N and four as Recce cars.

P800 WRC was built for recces and was purchased, alongside his WRC car, by Indonesian Rally champion, Tonny Hardianto, as part of his World Championship campaign. It was built with bash guards to protect the engine, final drive and fuel tanks, fitted with a full Kevlar underfloor and the standard ‘red top’ engine was thought to be sufficient at 275bhp. We understand that it was used on just two events, the 1997 WRC event in Indonesia and the Indonesian National Rally.

The cars were on a ‘Carnet’ and returned to the UK in late 1997 to be sold. The renowned Bill Gwynne snapped up this leading technology pair, selling this car to the Enduro biker and rally driver, David Rayner, who registered it as B2 WRX and kept it as an adrenaline-generating road car for over 40,000 road miles over nearly ten years. Shortly after his purchase, our vendor arranged for WRC specialists, Autosportif Engineering, to rebuild the engine and to check the rest of the package. It remains exactly as it was built with the exception of a 'Group N' baffled sump and a longer final-drive suitable for UK-motorway speeds. This blue and gold iconic rally tool now draws respect from enthusiasts from all walks of life and delivers electrifying road performance.

The car comes with a second set of wheels, engine bash guard, spare low-ratio gearbox and final-drive together with a standard exhaust system. It will have a fresh MOT prior to the sale and is accompanied by its V5C, items of correspondence and the usual invoices etc.

This is a rare car indeed, one of only a few hundred MY97 Type Rs, one of only 20 selected by the factory to be sent to Prodrive, and one of only four built to a ‘recce’ specification. We invite and encourage your inspection of this important Subaru.