Colin McRae’s Subaru Impreza WRX STI 22B is up for auction being one of the three prototypes that the Japanese automaker gave the legendary rally champion back in the day.
In the weeks to come, a Subaru Impreza WRX STI 22B which is a very rare piece of the history of modern cars will be sold at an auction.
The 1998 Subaru Impreza WRX STI 22B that was handed to the late Scottish rally champion Colin McRae by Subaru will be put up for sale in August; it has the potential to establish a record for the rare wide-body version.
The 22B is believed to be one of three prototypes built out of the around 425 units produced in total, of which 400 were first made for Japan and the UK and another 25 were made for other markets, including Australia.
The build plate on McRae’s 22B reads 000/400 given that it is a prototype.
Colin McRae and his co-driver Nicky Grist both received a prototype 22B with the matching 000/400 build numbers to celebrate Subaru’s 40th anniversary and its third straight victory in the World Rally Championship.
While Grist’s 22B reportedly still has its original S446YOX license plates, McRae’s 22B is still seen driving around with its original S447YOX plates.
The legendary wide-body Subaru world rally car that served as the 22B’s inspiration was reportedly built by David Lapworth, who received the first prototype produced in 1997.
The 1997 prototype eventually made its way to the US with vehicle collector Colton Amster after being seen for sale in Hong Kong in 2021 with only 55 kilometers on the clock.
Colin McRae, a legendary rally driver who passed away in a helicopter disaster in 2007 at the age of 39, was the youngest person to win the World Rally Championship in a four-door Subaru Impreza in 1995 sporting the iconic 555 livery.
The 1997 Chrysler Sunbeam, his first rally car, is included in an upcoming sale named “The McRae Collection,” together with the 22B.
A Ford Escort MkII designed especially for McRae in 2005 and the Rothmans-liveried Subaru Legacy RS (also known as the Liberty in Australia), which helped him win the 1992 British Rally Championship, are both also up for auction.
McRae is most commonly recognized for his wild driving while piloting wide-body blue Subaru Impreza coupes, which was one of the inspirations for the design of the 22B.
Silverstone Auctions has a price guide listed of between £400,000 and £500,000 (approximately $AU750,000-$950,000) for the road-going 22B. However, McRae’s 2001 Ford Focus rally car sold for £423,300 (almost $AU800,000) in early 2022, substantially exceeding the price projections at the time.
The 1998 Subaru Impreza WRX STI 22B Colin McRae prototype will be auctioned off on Saturday, August 26, through Silverstone Auctions.
