Chris Harris Introduces The Most Original WRC Car In The World

The team at Collecting Cars is honoured to present another exceptional auction consignment: the ex-Richard Burns and Robert Reid Subaru Impreza S6 WRC2000, which stormed to victory in the 2000 Rally of Great Britain - a vehicle widely regarded as ‘the most original WRC car in the world’. The launch of the Impreza on Collecting Cars highlights the new ‘CC R’ premium video offering on the platform, working closely with the owner to produce a captivating short film to showcase this truly remarkable WRC car - narrated by Chris Harris / @ChrisHarrisonCars Unlike almost any other rally car sold to a customer following competition use, this Impreza S6 was not taken back by Prodrive to be ‘sanitised’ or repaired. Instead, it was plucked directly from the finish line of the 2000 Network Q Rally GB by its first private owner, thereby allowing its originality to be preserved for the 21 years since then. Storming from the back of the pack to lead the rally by the end of the second leg, and securing a definitive win at the final stage in Margam Country Park in south Wales, Richard Burns reminded everyone of his prodigious talent - and the victory also marked a hat-trick of back-to-back Rally GB wins for him; previously winning in 1998 with Mitsubishi and 1999 with Subaru. Collected from the final stage by its first private owner, the Impreza S6 retains not only its Rally GB ‘battle scars’, but also the original pace notes as used for the final leg, its FIA Gold Log Book and FIA tags, identification documents, communication headsets, and even energy bars in the door pockets. As such, this Impreza is widely considered to be the most original ex-Works WRC car in existence, retaining its as-raced bodywork and scarred paint, its original engine and transmission, and even Prodrive’s secret scrutineering page software that enabled a lower rev readout to be displayed in order to pass stringent noise tests. Spending 18 years in just a couple of private collections, rarely being seen or used, this Impreza remained a fastidiously preserved piece of WRC history. In 2018, it was acquired by the current owner, who had every intention of returning this incredible ex-Works car to a packed crowd to be driven once again. They commissioned renowned motorsport specialist BGM Sport in Brackley to carry out a comprehensive mechanical recommissioning, taking care to preserve its patina and originality. It was subsequently put through rigorous shakedown testing, and has since participated in a number of events to demonstrate its remarkable performance and patina - not least a prominent position in the hill runs at the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed, where its co-driver was none other than Alister McRae. Still in excellent mechanical order with around £50,000 invested in its recommissioning, ‘W25 SRT’ is truly one-of-a-kind. Unquestionably one of the best-preserved WRC cars in the world, it also boasts outstanding provenance with its outright win on the Network Q Rally of Great Britain, driven by one of the greatest rally talents of all time. In preparing this exceptional WRC car for sale, Collecting Cars worked closely with the owner to produce an enthralling short film to convey the emotion of owning and driving it. This is the first film produced by ‘CC R’; a Collecting Cars partnership with automotive cinema specialist Ralle, to create immersive content that truly brings auctions to life on screen. This new offering is now available to other sellers, who can discuss this with the Consignment Team at Collecting Cars. --- View the Subaru Impreza S6 WRC on the Collecting Cars platform, auction ends from 7pm (BST) on Sunday 30th May - --- Follow Collecting Cars on: Auction platform - ​​​​ Instagram - ​​​​ Twitter - ​​​​ Facebook - Follow Ralle on: Website - Instagram -