Ex-Possum Bourne

2002 Subaru Impreza WRX STi Group A Rally Car

Registration no. W555 ROJ Chassis no. 7A8GF090701004045

Footnotes

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. 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.

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. In a closely fought contest, Subaru team-mates McRae and Sainz won five of the eight rounds between them – the split being three/two to the Spaniard – with the Drivers' Championship eventually decided in the Scot's favour by virtue of his greater consistency. 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 example of one of the most iconic rally cars of recent times was built by Possum Bourne Motorsport (PBMS) in New Zealand for the Subaru Rally Team Australia's lead driver Possum Bourne to compete in selected rounds of the 2002 FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC). This car was a major step forward for PBMS as it was built to be as close as possible to Prodrive specification, based on Possum's experiences with the eponymous factory team.

Carrying Bourne's usual 'ROJ' registration, the Impreza first competed in the Parker-Enzed Rally of Rotorua round of the APRC in New Zealand in June 2002 where it retired early with an engine problem. The car then went to Japan for the APRC Hokkaido Rally in September 2002, which it won convincingly (video coverage of the rally is available). The car stayed in Japan for the V-Rally International Alpine Rally in October 2002 (a candidate event for the 2003 APRC) where it finished 2nd. The Hokkaido Rally was the last event won by Possum Bourne before his untimely death in April 2003. The Group A Impreza was shipped back to PBMS in NZ and remained unused in the Bourne workshop.

In 2004 the Subaru was rebuilt and sold to Bruce Herbert, NZ Rally Champion in 2001, 2002 and 2003. At this stage it was changed from left- to right-hand drive, as used in NZ (modification reversible if required). Herbert did not use the car in competition and it was subsequently acquired by a gentleman driver and used in the Targa New Zealand, run on closed tarmac roads. The Impreza was looked after in NZ for the new owner by WRC Developments, run by two ex-Prodrive UK specialists. Its specification includes the following:

Engine: Carrillo con-rods, Omega pistons, heavy duty studs, Group A IHI turbo
Six-speed gearbox with Atlas internals
Differentials are open (front), viscous (centre) and plated limited-slip (rear)
Proflex suspension (serviced)
Strengthened front/rear cross-members
Alcon brake kit/rotors/hats/callipers
ATL fuel cell and Bosch fuel pumps
Prodrive seats (currently removed and replaced by new in-date seats)
New Willans harnesses
On board and handheld fire extinguishers
Coralba trip
PBMS carbon foot-plates/door panels/ map holder/Terratrip mount
Motec dash and data logger, flocked dash, Peltor intercom
Group A headlights, Hella 400 spotlights
Kevlar under-body protection and aluminium sump guard

The car is finished in the 2002 Hokkaido Rally livery and has been set up and mapped by Warren Heath and Terry Stamper to run on 105-octane petrol. It has a new MSA UK logbook and is UK registered as 'W555 ROJ', a nod to Possum's 'ROJ' registrations, and the car is MOT'd to May 2022. (There is another UK plate, 'W555 TOW', for tow vehicle, if required.) The car was last run in 2019 in the Eifel Rally (Germany) and Rally Legend (San Marino) and is on the button and ready to go - at half the price of a comparable Prodrive car. Spares include an original Prodrive driver's seat; bonnet-mounted spot lamps and pod; and an additional set of wheels.