Richard Burns' Subaru Impreza WRC

Since its arrival on the scene in the early 1980s, Subaru's presence at the forefront of international rallying has given the Japanese concern a profile out of all proportion to its relatively modest stature as an automobile manufacturer. Subaru's first venture onto the world stage was at the 1980 Safari Rally with the un-competitive Leone model, and the arduous African event would remain the focus of the firm's rally campaign for several years. In 1990 the commencement of what would turn out to be a highly successful partnership with the British Prodrive concern enabled Subaru to undertake a full international season for the first time. Despite adequate power from the Legacy 4WD's turbo-charged engine, and the presence of Finn Markku Alen in the Prodrive works team, outright victory at international level continued to prove elusive, though Scot Colin McRae's back-to-back RAC Open Championships in 1991 and 1992 hinted at greater things to come.

Following the arrival of the new Impreza Turbo model in 1993, Subaru made its long awaited breakthrough in August of that year when Colin McRae/Derek Ringer won the New Zealand Rally, the marque's first major international success. The following season brought three more World Rally Championship (WRC) victories – two for McRae and one for Carlos Sainz – before Subaru finally achieved its long-sought goal of outright victory in the World Championship in 1995 with McRae narrowly beating Sainz. Subaru also claimed the Manufacturers' title, a feat it would repeat in 1996 and again in 1997. Further Drivers' World Championships were secured in 2001, courtesy of the late Richard Burns, and in 2003 when Petter Solberg emerged triumphant.

This 1999 Subaru Impreza WRC99 was built to compete in the 1999 and 2000 World Rally Championships with the late Richard Burns. The car's first competition appearance was at the 1999 Sanremo Rally where, crewed by Burns and navigator Robert Reid, it retired due to a transmission failure after the first day. At the time they were in 5th place, just behind the Mitsubishi of Tommi Makinen, who would go on to win.

In January 2000, it was entered in the Monte Carlo Rally, still with Burns and Reid. Burns did a very good job during the first day with 2nd place in the SS1 Tourette du Chateau; then another 2nd place in the SS2 St Pierre; 1st place in the SS2 Norante; 3rd place in the SS4 Selonnet; and 2nd place in the SS5 Rochebrune. At the end of the first day, Richard was 2nd overall, just behind Tommi Mäkinen and ahead of Gilles Panizzi. The night was extremely cold from Thursday 20th to Friday 21st, and ignition issues ended the Monte Carlo dream of no fewer than four cars: the three Peugeot 206s and Richard Burns' Subaru. Tommi Mäkinen went on to win the 68th Monte Carlo Rally for Mitsubishi, with Juha Kankkunen finishing 3rd for Subaru.

This stunning 1999 Subaru Impreza WRC99 Rally Car is available as part of Bonhams Goodwood Members Meeting auction on the 16th April 2023. Photos © Bonhams