A WRC car for the road? Driving Prodrive's P25 Subaru Impreza | Henry Catchpole - The Driver’s Seat

Back in 1997, Prodrive built the first Subaru Impreza of the WRC era that took over from Group A in the World Rally Championship. Now, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the WRC97 that Colin McRae, Piero Liatti and Kenneth Eriksson all drove to the 1997 Manufacturers’ title, the same company in Banbury has produced what it claims is a road-going version of a WRC Impreza and it’s called the P25.

Some have suggested that the P25 is a restomod of a 22B (or P1), but although it looks very similar, it is quite a different car under the skin. In fact the skin itself is different, because almost all the P25’s bodywork is made of carbon fibre. In lightest, pared-back track spec it weighs just 1150kg. The EJ25 Engine is also substantially upgraded and produces 450bhp and 442lb ft of torque, meaning a 0-60mph time of under three seconds. Sport Plus mode also brings Anti-Lag to the party, which does nothing for fuel economy and everything for response and entertainment.

There is also bespoke suspension, a new interior by Callum Designs (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), AP Racing pedals and brakes, a choice of seats and a hydraulic handbrake in addition to the electric parking brake. But perhaps the centrepiece of the whole car is the gearbox; a Prodrive six-speed sequential with helical cut dog gears. It’s operated by a single paddle that you pull towards you to change up and push away to change down. There is also a fly-by-wire clutch that you don’t need to touch at all when you engage the rather spectacular launch control.

Sadly only 25 P25s are being produced and each one starts at £552,000. It also won’t be for everyone as it is undoubtedly a pretty focused and at times raw experience. But it is also hugely involving and exciting and lives up to those claims of being a WRC car for the road. As with the other, very different, rally restomod that I drove earlier this year, the Kimera EVO37, the world is a slightly brighter place for it existing. There is also a suggestion that this could just be the start for a new road car arm of Prodrive, so watch this space. I’m hoping for an older four-door Impreza next with a manual and unequal length headers. And to be able to take it to a track.

#TheDriversSeat #HenryCatchpole #NeverStopDriving #hagertydriversclub

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[HenryCatchpole]

Hope you all enjoy this! Having been lucky enough to drive a few WRC cars over the years (even a couple of Imprezas) it’s fascinating to feel just how close this P25 is to a full-on competition car. Hope you all have a great Christmas - thank, as always, you for all the support.

[comfort_in_discomfort]

My father was an engineer that designed and tuned some of the original Prodrive Subaru WRC suspensions. So nice to see it on the road in this form.

[SpaceHCowboy]

As a Scotsman that grew up watching Colin, and owned a few WRX and STi in my life..
This brings a tear to my eye.
Such a good video. ❤

[apophisstr]

Honestly, rally car/builds are THE most suitable platforms for road-going purposes, really wish more people would appreciate these more!

[Astrograss]

Magnificent car, would love one. 500k is ridiculous unfortunately.

[brucemacdonald]

Imagine the dream rally restomod garage you assemble these days with all the offerings that are now available!

[JustinGadue]

Hands Down The BEST Looking Subaru!!!!
My Absolute Dream Car..
This Subaru Is So Gorgeous
😍😍..
Hopefully One Day I’ll Own One..

[jameslucas]

A perfect tribute to our favourite era of the WRC. I've only replayed the few seconds at 6:25 about 27 times now but that number will increase over time as I revisit this video. Great effirt, Henry! 👌

[darius]

I can't believe rally cars for the road arent a big genre of cars on the road. We have racecars for the road that are super low and hard but have you seen a road lately, its bumpy, fullof potholes, wet, snowy, you take a ferrari scuderia on a street you will crack 2 wheels and your spine imediatly, you need a car that can take a hit at full speed and keep going, a car that isnt a 2 ton suv. Rally cars should be everywhere

[Chris.Davies]

Let's be clear: This car is far beyond what they were driving in 1997, in the new "high power" EJ20.
I personally run arguably the rarest of all GC8/GF8 cars, a '97 Tommy kaira M20b wagon - one of fewer than 300 made.
Although I own Porsches, I daily drive it - and it is without doubt one of the greatest cars of all time.
I have restored it, and continued upgrading it (gently, and carefully) to the spec Tomita would have created today, with heavier 20mm symmetrical anti-roll bars, STI Version 8 brakes, Brake-master cylinder brace (Rock hard pedal!), RA alloy bonnet, alloy swing arms, nolathane bushings, BBS 18" R-GR wheels with 215/35 rubber, KYB twin-tube shocks, de-cat super fat downpipe, feeding the famed Fujitsubo exhaust - which sometimes spits flames on the over-run, due to the HKS BOV. :)

Every time I drive a modern car, I am reminded of how truly awful they are. How heavy they feel. How totally disconnected you are from EVERYTHING. How bland and quiet they are. How horribly they handle and feel (Like a boat). How wanky the interiors are, and how you sit on the seat, not in it. And how stupidly tall and wide and long modern cars tend to be.

This car has a "throttle cable", which physically connects your right foot to the throttle body, and it is one of the best things about it. You're driving it. There is no computer deciding when you are allowed to have the amount of gas your right foot requires.

It's almost like the industry has intentionally stopped making lightweight simple cars that are fun to drive, and extremely reliable - adding stupid amounts of complexity you don't want and didn't ask for, and which disable the car when they fault. Accelerated obsolescence is disgusting. I'll have no part in it, thank you.

[mintsauce]

It is indescribably beautiful. The PERFECT car. Literally perfect in every way. My heart aches to own one even though I know I probably never will.

[Sniperkitten]

I feel butterflies in my belly watching this... This is what cars should make you feel like !

[punjabeeplaya]

So happy Henry and Hagerty are making these videos. Keep up the amazing work

[philipB]

Never stop driving… I’m going to be grinning ear to ear for quite a while after watching this, thank you.

[JCWren]

I had a 2001 Impreza 2.5RS I bought new. Absolutely loved that car, and always wanted to swap in a WRX engine. Unfortunately, it was just a little too cost prohibitive to do it. In 2012 it was declared totaled when someone T-boned the left rear wheel in a parking lot at around 5 MPH. They managed to shove the axle about 3" to the right. The insurance company first declared it repairable, but by the time the body shop dug into it and found other damage, the repair cost went over value. I paid $21, 566 for it, got $6535 from the insurance company, and it had 121, 853 miles and was in darn near perfect condition. I've tried to find one on and off over the years, but they've all been too clapped out to mess with. The P25 would be nice substitute, but it's outside my budget :)

[SuperchargedShift]

Saw this exact p25 on the road the other day and it really gets down and the gear changes are brutal!

[ZGI]

The most beautiful Subaru ever made, and probably in the list of top 10 most beautiful cars ever made.

[xraxcynister]

I’ve been driving an ‘04 STi for the last 10 years, and I fall in love with it again every time I drive it. The only thing I would want on this build is UEL headers. Despite all the arguments for efficiency. The sound is everything. Most people are looking well before I come into view, and they already know what’s coming. Had a 6 year old boy grab his dad one day and say “ that’s the car from my game!!!”. Coming full circle almost brought a tear to my eye.

[mindjal]

Just the fact that engines put together by the same person that put together both Colins AND Richards engines makes this car so damn special on its own

[LorenzoMarzola]

If you close your eyes, when the antilag kicks in, it just feels like you're at the start of the Monte Carlo WRC in '97. Just incredible