It is 30 years since the Subaru Impreza 555 first hit the stages of the FIA World Rally Championship, debuting on the 1000 Lakes Rally in Finland, and the occasion was celebrated this weekend in style at RallyLegend in San Marino.
To mark the milestone anniversary David Richards CBE was presented with a special award for Prodrive at a ceremony hosted by Colin McRae’s daughter, Hollie, and attended by the McRae family among other invited guests.
The event, presented by Best Impreza, also brought together fifteen ex-works Imprezas for an unparalleled parade, headed by Prodrive’s own legendary N1WRC, the car driven by Colin McRae during the 1996 season and which is now curated by the Prodrive Legends team at the Banbury company’s HQ.
In addition to the N1WRC, the iconic L555 BAT, in which Colin was crowned 1995 FIA World Champion and still belongs to the McRae family, was driven on the parade by his father Jimmy with Hollie, riding as co-driver. Alister McRae got behind the wheel of L555 REP, which originally belonged to Carlos Sainz, and Max McRae piloted N555 WRC formerly campaigned in period by Piero Liatti – who was also a guest of the RallyLegend weekend.
Other ‘prestigious plates’ on show included cars driven in the past by the late Richard Burns, Miki Biasion, and Simon Jean Joseph.
- ENDS -
For further information please contact:
Emma Bearpark
Head of Marketing
E media@prodrive.com
T +44 (0)7909 778420
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Prodrive
Prodrive is one of the world’s largest and most successful motorsport and technology businesses. Over 500 staff are employed across its Banbury headquarters and composites manufacturing facility in Milton Keynes. While the company is perhaps best known for motorsport, today it is just one part of an organisation that in the last decade has diversified to become a technology business working in a range of sectors and providing a range of services. Within the Prodrive Group, there are four distinct but interconnected business areas: Motorsport, operating race and rally programmes for vehicle manufacturers and global brands; Advanced Technology, providing innovative technology for the automotive, aerospace, defence, and marine sectors; Composites, developing lightweight composite components for the automotive, aerospace and marine sectors; and Brand& developing bespoke clothing and accessories for leading brands.
www.prodrive.com