This was one of the most eagerly awaited 1:18th scale models in 2000. My local hobby shop was lucky to get 50 in stock in November 2000 and sold out within days. I bought mine at the British Motor Show in the NEC, Birmingham, in October 2000, just after it was released.
AUTOart has taken to producing highly detailed models of todays Group A and WRC rally cars, one release being better than the last.
The car itself is based on the roadgoing family car Impreza, but is highly modified for rallying. The engine is a turbocharged flat four which puts out around 300 bhp through an advanced 4 wheel drive system for maximum traction. Subaru last won the world championship for drivers in 1995 with Colin McRae, who has since left them for Ford. Since his departure, another British driver, Richard Burns has taken on the job as lead driver for Subaru. He narrowly missed out on the 2000 world championship to Peugeot driver Marcus Gronholm, but had some fine wins including the tough Rally of Britain. And in 2001 he won the Drivers Championship in a Subaru. Burns switched to Peugeot in 2002 and 2003, but was due to return to Subaru for the 2004 season. Unfortunately he was diagnosed with a brain tumour at the end of 2003 and hence had to sit out the season. Sadly he was not to recover from this illness and he died on the 25th of November 2005.
The model has a highly detailed interior with suede effect on the steering wheel and dashboard, and all the rally equipment you would expect, including a rollcage, fire extinguisher and competition seats. The engine is fully detailed, although as is common with AUTOart models, the hood or bonnet does not stay open by itself, which makes it hard to display or photograph the engine. The boot opens to reveal a detailed fuel tank, but you have to undo a screw under the car to open it, which is a little inconvenient! Overall though it is an excellent model. On my scale it gets 8/10 marks. A must for any collection, especially if you like rally cars!
