Saturday 14th September 2024

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Book review by Peter Baker

Great Cars 17: Subaru Impreza WRC - The autobiography of P8 WRC

If I was to write a book about famous rally cars I would include more than one, probably make it a round dozen, maybe even more. After all, the wider the appeal, the more copies you’re likely to sell. Which goes to show that author Ian Wagstaff has put together this book with no thought of profit. More, simply a labour of love.

So what we have here is a very complete, 320-page history of P8 WRC, a Subaru built by Prodrive for Colin McRae and Nicky Grist to share on the 1997 Safari Rally. It came as a mild surprise, owing to Colin’s ‘all or nothing, let’s win in the first five minutes’ approach to the sport, that the pair took overall victory. Making the car, driver, and co-driver, worthy of respect. Colin’s reputation as a car breaker, and his ongoing fractious partnership with Prodrive boss Dave Richards was never forgotten, but he went on win 25 WRC rallies (not all for Subaru) before his untimely death, aged just 39, in a stupid helicopter accident in 2007.

Colin became the youngest, and first ever, British WRC Champion (1995), and worthy holder of a MBE, so this book was always going to be an inseparably, two-way tribute, to both an outstanding car and driver.

Anyway, the book is neatly divided between the past, a period of extensive restoration and current usage, which, as one might expect, includes its frequent visits to Goodwood Festival of Speed. And each page comes to life thanks to the copious crystal-clear images of both before and after. It’s a bit disappointing that no listing of results is included, but then P8 WRC only competed on three WRC events, and I have to say finding a full-page picture of a grinning ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair within did nothing to improve my pre-breakfast mood. But never mind.

Ian Wagstaff has never written a bad book, and I’m proud to count him as a friend. It also represents very good value at £69.00. So wait for a wet and murky day, typical of the RAC Rally, don your Subaru rally jacket and cap, and scoot off to the local bookstore, if you can find one. Either that or go direct to Porter Press International website, where mention of Retro-Speed magazine will gain you a 10% discount. Thoroughly recommended, five stars.

Great Cars 17: Subaru Impreza WRC - The autobiography of P8 WRC
Written by Ian Wagstaff
ISBN 978-1907085-52-9
Available from Porter Press International
Price £69.00