Highlights

Ex-Petter Solberg's car from his 2003 World Rally Championship-winning season
Finished 2nd at Rally Finland 2003
12 overall rally victories in the UK and Ireland between 2004 and 2010
Extensive restoration to original 2003 works specification
Comprehensive inspection and rectification works totalling £15,000 completed in July 2026

The Appeal

The early 2000s were WRC's golden age, and Subaru was at its heart. The Impreza WRX STI became a global icon on the back of Tommi Mäkinen and Richard Burns' exploits, its boxer growl and blue-and-gold livery instantly recognisable even to non-fans. Crucially, road-going STIs shared real DNA with the works rally cars. Buy one, and you were driving something close to a genuine world championship contender. Add fierce rivalries with Mitsubishi, Ford, and Peugeot, and you had an era of raw, characterful rallying that's never quite been matched since.

The Subaru Impreza S9 WRC represents the very peak of Prodrive's development of the Impreza platform for the World Rally Championship. In 2003, these cars carried Petter Solberg to his one and only Drivers' World Championship title: a season that cemented both Solberg and the blue-and-gold Impreza in rallying folklore.

Chassis 15 is one of the cars that made that championship happen. Driven by Solberg himself at Rally Finland 2003, where he crossed the line in second place, this is a genuine works entry from one of the most celebrated WRC campaigns in history. After retiring from the world stage, the car moved to Ireland and the UK for national-level competition, where it proved devastatingly effective, amassing 12 overall victories on both tarmac and gravel between 2004 and 2010.

The car has since undergone an extensive restoration, stripped down to its bare shell and returning it to its original 2003 works specification. Most recently, in July 2026, MMS (Robbie McGurk Motorsport Services) carried out a comprehensive inspection and rectification programme.

Works-specification WRC cars with this calibre of provenance very seldom come to market. A championship-winning driver, a championship-winning season, a documented competition record, and a thorough restoration - this car has got it all.

History and Paperwork

Subaru Impreza S9 WRC, Chassis 15, registered S500 WRT
Originally a Subaru World Rally Team works car
Driven by Petter Solberg at Rally Finland 2003, finishing 2nd
Part of Solberg's 2003 World Rally Championship-winning campaign
Came to Ireland and the UK in 2004 for national rallying
12 overall rally victories between 2004 and 2010, on both tarmac and gravel
Notable victories include the Killarney Rally of the Lakes, Malcolm Wilson Stages Rally, and Bushwhacker Stages Rally
Inspection, service, and rectification works report from MMS (Robbie McGurk Motorsport Services), dated July 2026, detailing £15,000 of work

The Condition

Extensive restoration completed, returning the car to its original 2003 works specification
Many new genuine and restored parts fitted throughout
New fuel bladder fitted
Four genuine Speedline wheels fitted with brand new Pirelli RA5A tyres
Rear mirror flaps fitted
Slide latches fitted to front bumper
The vendor states that the level of workmanship and attention to detail is of a very high standard

Alongside Martini, Alitalia, and Rothmans, Subaru's blue-and-gold livery is among rallying's most iconic schemes. Following an exceedingly comprehensive restoration from the bare shell up, this car looks just as it must have done in its heyday, returned to accurate 2003 works specification. The quality of the finish is utterly remarkable, which the photographs attest. The work has ensured the Subaru is every bit as capable as it was in its day, and we're sure many a concours event would now welcome such a car alongside more traditional entrants.

The Mechanics

2.0-litre turbocharged flat-four engine
Six-speed prodrive ATM sequential gearbox
Four-wheel drive
Inspection, service, and rectification works carried out by MMS (Robbie McGurk Motorsport Services) in July 2026, totalling £15,000

Summary of recent work:

Brake discs and pads inspected; braking system bled and fluid replaced with SRF brake fluid
Gas 4X dampers inspected
Water injection pump removed and tank stripped for inspection
Fuel pumps checked and tested
Engine started and brought to full operating temperature; pressures and temperatures checked
Intermittent driver's screen fault investigated and fixed
Alternator removed and checked; earth bracket repaired and refitted
All chassis and engine earth connections checked
Data logger and screen controller sent to GEMS for repair, refitted, and engine run
Turbo drain pipe removed from cylinder head and oil leak repaired
Scavenge union and main internal filter replaced
Hydraulic pumps swapped and tested; new high-pressure pump fitted
Low-pressure return pipe replaced
All engine oils changed
Steering rack dismantled; accumulator fitted with new seal; bled and reassembled
Front driveshaft outer CV boots replaced; CV joints cleaned and re-greased
Gearbox and clutch assembly removed, inspected, and reassembled
Clutch plates measured at approximately 3.5mm wear
Gearbox system pressure fault investigated; Dowty seals on shift controller replaced
Oil seal on right-hand gearbox output shaft replaced
Gearbox refilled with approximately 7.5 litres of oil; pressure accumulator tested
System pressure and auto gear-change operation tested
Complete radiator pack and cooling fans removed and inspected
Gates cam belt inspected and noted as appearing recently fitted
All spark plugs removed and inspected

While the quality of finish is such that this car is fit to grace a collection or museum, a great deal of effort has also been made ensuring it is ready to drive just as its makers at Prodrive intended. The above list gives more than a flavour of the level of work the Impreza has recently received. A mere glance at the engine compartment, underside and suspension components speaks volumes about the level of maintenance. We're assured that the car drives superbly, ready to meet its next owner.

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