25 years ago… Subaru and McRae's first WRC victory

Le Rally of New Zealand 1993 takes place in the middle of the southern winter, from August 5 to 8. It's the eighth round of the world championship, and for Subaru, the situation is serious. The Japanese brand is in last place in the Manufacturers' ranking (36 points), far from Toyota (97 points).

The fiery one Colin McRae also has a hard time putting one foot in front of the other (7th, 42 points behind leader Miki Biasion). In short, for the Legacy preparer, Prodrive, we have to roll up our sleeves.

However, the event got off to a bad start for the cars with the “555” decor. Colin McRae falls back into his faults from the first stage with “a small excursion into a ditch, damaging the right rear door and fender against a tree”, as explained CARhebdo in its summary (No. 893). Ouch!

The Scot's talent will be very useful to move up the rankings. The lead of the race, led by Ari Vatanen on the other Subaru) has three men in just six seconds at the end of the first stage, and while the leading group fights throughout the stages, Colin McRae uses his style all in gliding to play around with big, fast curves.

Finally, a typical McRae style, but without too many frills. “This year, the coverings were redone, explained the future 1995 world champion. Many stages are covered with a layer of stones. And this layer is thicker on the edges of the paths than in the middle. This is why you should not exaggerate your skidding, otherwise you will lose too much traction. »

The fight with the French Didier Auriol (Toyota) and above all Francois Delecour (Ford) is intense to the end. The latter gains eight seconds with three stages to go! Colin McRae and his co-driver Derek Ringer, however, managed to maintain a 27-second lead over the Ford Escort and won the rally.

According to the story ofCARhebdo At the time, Colin McRae and David Richards (prodrive boss) publicly solemnly celebrated this success. “Without a word, without the slightest expansive gesture, its pilot descends and, slowly, walks around his car, exchanging a simple handshake with each of his mechanics."

"I'm going to call my father (Jimmy McRae) to tell him the news. I feel like there's going to be a big party at my house tonight.", boasted the winner. The Scot’s festive honor was safe…