McRae family reunited with famous Impreza

Colin McRae drove numerous Subarus, Fords and Citroëns in his WRC career, but it’s the Impreza 555 for which he’s best remembered and father Jimmy will be reunited with one of Prodrive’s most famous examples this summer.

The 1996 season ended with Rallye de España and that Lloret de Mar-based event marked the conclusion of the Group A era ahead of the introduction of the World Rally Car the following year.

Having taken the previous year’s world title in an Impreza 555, McRae was naturally a big fan of the car, and winning in Spain in 1996 was a great way for the Prodrive-Subaru-McRae alliance to end that chapter.

June’s Rallyday event in Britain will reunite Prodrive and the McRae family when Jimmy gets behind the wheel of that Group A Impreza 555 at Castle Combe.

As well as helping Rallyday celebrate 25 years since Colin’s world title, Prodrive will wheel out its biggest display of cars ever at the June 20 event.

There’s an ex-Safari winning Richard Burns Impreza WRC99, a Mini JCW WRC, a Rothmans-liveried Porsche 911 RS SC and a similarly liveried MG Metro 6R4 that Jimmy drove in 1986. In addition, Prodrive is promising a surprise visit from one more special car.

Rallyday organiser Tom Davis said: “In a year when we’re celebrating a very, very special season from Colin McRae, to have Prodrive with us as a partner for the event is fantastic news.

“When you think about Colin and Derek (co-driver Ringer) or Colin and Nicky (co-driver Grist) competing, you think of them in the blue and yellow of a Prodrive Subaru. Prodrive really is an iconic brand, one that’s recognised around the world.”

• Photographs courtesy of Prodrive