SUBARU IMPREZA GROUP A - N1 WRC
1996
This Subaru Impreza Group A car was driven to victory by Colin McRae in the 1996 Rallye Catalunya. His victory ensured Subaru clinched its second consecutive manufacturers’ World Rally Championship title, but unfortunately was not enough to enable the reigning World Champion to clinch his second drivers’ title.
As well as this being the last ever rally for the Impreza Group A, which was superseded by the new ‘World Rally Car’ in 1997, this was also the last event in which Colin McRae was co-driven by Derek Ringer, a partnership which had started in 1991 when the two won the British Rally Championship. In 1997, McRae’s new co-driver would be Nicky Grist.
Kenneth Eriksson and Pierro Liatti also drove the Group A Impreza during 1996.
SUBARU IMPREZA GROUP A
Results
Rallye Catalunya
4-6 November 1996
C McRae/D Ringer 1ST
Specification
Engine
1994cc 4 cylinder boxer
34 mm restrictor
Twin overhead cam 16 valve
Bore/stroke: 92/75 mm
Compression ratio: 8.8:1
Power 320 bhp @ 5500 rpm
Torque 440 Nm @ 4000 rpm
Drivetrain
Four wheel drive
Six speed H pattern manual gearbox
Dry, AP triple carbon disc 225 mm
diameter clutch
Passive front, centre and rear differentials
Steering
Rack and pinion, power assisted
Suspension
Front: Macpherson strut with lower L wishbones, coil springs, telescopic gas shock absorbers and anti-roll bar
Rear: Macpherson strut with 2 transverse and 1 longitudinal links, coil springs, telescopic gas shock absorbers and anti-roll bar
Brakes
Dual circuit with servo, adjustable ratio split front to rear
Front: 355/304 mm (tarmac/gravel) ventilated discs four pot pistons
Rear: 332/304 mm (tarmac/gravel) ventilated discs four pot pistons
Body
Steel monocoque Impreza chassis with roll-cage.
Front and rear steel subframes
4 door saloon
Prodrive FIA standard roll cage
Wheels
Tarmac: 8” x 18”
Gravel: 7” x 15”
Snow: 5.5” x 16”
Weight & Dimensions
Length: 4340 mm
Width: 1690 mm
Height: 1405 mm
Wheelbase: 2520 mm
Front track: 1465 mm
Rear track: 1465 mm
Weight: 1230 kg