Colin McRae and Björn Waldegård cars on offer with Iconic Auctioneers.

Iconic Auctioneers (formerly Silverstone Auctions) will offer this Subaru and the 1979 Toyota Celica GT RA40 Group 4 Ex-Works WRC Rally Car - Ex-Björn Waldegård, (below) at their August Sale on 25th & 26th August. Something for rally enthusiasts who want to own a slice of automotive history to put in their diary now!

This 1998 Subaru Impreza STi 22B - Chassis #000/400 – was delivered to the late Colin McRae MBE in November 1998 and is just one of three prototype 22Bs built. As a gesture of thanks for their services to Subaru over the years (winning the 1995 World Rally Championship, finishing 2nd in 1996 and 1997 and 3rd in 1998 and gaining the company their 3rd consecutive WRC Manufacturers Title), three prototype 22Bs were offered to three special people. One was offered to Prodrive’s David Lapworth, currently residing in the USA, one to Colin’s co-driver Nicky Grist, and this one, offered to Colin McRae himself. It was assumed that Subaru gifted the cars however Colin is quoted as saying he had to buy his, which “hurt as a Scotsman”.

Colin McRae was once quoted in a TV interview about the 22B as saying it is one of his favourite cars, whilst admitting "it gets you into bother" by virtue of its character. The mind boggles at what qualifies as 'bother' to a man of McRae's talents but anyone who has driven or been in a 22B will vouch for the sheer capabilities of the car, and its confidence inspiring nature to go faster and faster.

Built to celebrate both the marque's 40th anniversary and its third straight WRC manufacturers' title, the 22B STi was billed as the production version of Subaru's already-iconic two-door World Rally Car. With its beefy front and rear arches, a high-rise rear spoiler and the unique EJ22 engine, the 22B was as close to Colin McRae's rally car as any mortal was ever going to get. It wasn't so much an homologation special but more of a road-going replica. This is surely the ultimate road-going Subaru.

One of the last surviving WRC Toyota Team Europe (TTE) Celica RA40s, this car was driven by Björn Waldegård, the WRC’s first drivers’ champion, on the 1980 Lombard RAC Rally. Highly original, sympathetically restored and offered to market for the first time in over 30 years.

The original works car was built by Toyota Team Europe (TTE) in Cologne and first registered in Germany, bearing assigned ‘K-AE 3460’. The car’s international rallying career began in May 1980 at the WRC Acropolis International Rally, with Andersson Ove and Liddon Henry finishing 6th overall. The car was then used in August 1980 by Tapio Rainio and Erkki Nyman on the WRC 1000 Lakes International Rally in Finland to finish 7th overall.

The car’s next outing in November 1980 saw the, then, reigning World Rally Champion Björn Waldegård drive it in the WRC Lombard RAC International Rally of Great Britain accompanied by Hans Thorszelius. A competitive drive saw them leading until their retirement in the Grizedale stage, and records show that they set fastest time on 4 of the 70 special stages.

In 1983, the car was reassigned the aged-related UK registration ‘BPA 857Y’ which it has retained for the last 40 years. It has been lovingly maintained by the same owner for the last 30 years, who has preserved its original body panels/components and curated its history file. Recently it has been showcase at various demonstration events, including the Donnington Park Historic Festival and the Oulton Park Gold Cup. This is a great opportunity to own a piece of rallying history.