On the 3rd, March 1997, Colin McRae and co-driver Nicky Grist won the Safari Rally (Kenya) in their Subaru Impreza World Rally Car 97-008 (or P8 WRC). Specialist drivers were used to perfection to ensure SWRT won the FIA World Rally Championship Manufacturers’ title by a comfortable margin of 23 points. After winning in Kenya, the car finished 2nd in Argentina, but then retired in Indonesia where Colin went off the road, damaging the car’s radiator, which overheated the engine and led to a small engine bay fire. After returning to Prodrive in Banbury, UK for a full rebuild, it was purchased by a private driver. ‘P8 WRC’ went on to compete in rallies all over the world in the hands of more drivers for almost 20 years before returning ‘home’ to Banbury for a full restoration in 2021.
WheelsAge.org '2005–atual