Jimmy Mcrae to handle Colin’s 1996 Subaru Impreza at Castle Combe Rallyday
Jimmy Mcrae will drive Prodrive’s ex-colin Mcrae Subaru Impreza 555 at June’s Rallyday as part of the Castle Combe event’s 25th anniversary celebration of the Scot’s World Rally Championship title.
The Impreza 555 – a 1996 Mcrae car – is part of Prodrive’s biggest ever commitment to Rallyday, with six cars coming from the multiple world championship-winning outfit.
Last year, the Banbury-based team reunited five-time British champion Mcrae with the Rothmans-backed MG Metro 6R4 he drove through 1986.
That iconic car will return to Wiltshire for Rallyday’s all-new summer date on June 20.
The Metro will be joined by the 2011 Mini JCW WRC driven by Dani Sordo on Rally GB and Saeed Al Hajri’s Middle East Championship Porsche 911 SC RS. It’s Subarus, however, that Prodrive is most synonymous with and there will be a brace of factory Imprezas on show. The Impreza WRC99 Richard Burns drove on the 2000 Safari will be joined by the earlier Group A 555.
In addition to those cars, Prodrive has promised a popular surprise for Rallyday visitors.
Talking of the team’s alliance with Rallyday, Prodrive chairman David Richards said: “It is great to see how Rallyday has remained true to its roots and, over the last two decades, grown to become the biggest annual celebration of rallying in this country.
“We’re bringing some of our most iconic rally cars from the last 35 years and I am sure they will be in very good company.”
Rallyday organiser Tom Davis said he was delighted with the support of what he described as one of world motorsport’s iconic brands.
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 [Ringer] or Colin and Nicky [Grist] competing, you think of them in the blue and yellow of a Prodrive Subaru. Prodrive is an iconic brand, one that’s recognised around the world.
“And to have them promising a surprise seventh entry as well only serves to further whet the appetite for rally fans.”