SUBARU IMPREZA 555 GROUP A TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE
Flat four 'boxer' quad-cam 16 valve
Bore: 92mm
Stroke: 75mm
Capacity: 1994cc
Compression ratio: 8.8:1
Power: 320-330bhp @ 5500rpm
Power band: 2500-6000rpm
Maximum engine speed: 8000rpm
Torque: 325-339lbft @ 4-5000rpm
Air filter: Ramair
Water injection
TRANSMISSION
Prodrive 6 speed semi-auto pneumatic paddle-shift + regular H pattern
Front diff: Active
Centre diff: Active
Rear diff: Mechanical/locked
Clutch: AP carbon
TURBOCHARGER
IHI VF15 RHB52with FIA regulation 34mm restrictor
Maximum boost: 3 bar @ 2500rpm
CONTROL AND DISPLAY UNITS
Engine: FHI/STI
Datalogging: GEMS
Rally computer: Coralba
Driver's instruments: Stack ST400 0-8000 tachometer
VDO water temperature gauge
EXHAUST
3" straight pipe with catalytic converter + optional 5" rear silencer (98dba)
FUEL SYSTEM
75 litre boot-mounted safety tank
SUSPENSION
Bilstein MacPherson struts
Springs:
Tarmac: (F) 400-600 (R) 250-450
Gravel: (F)160-275 (R)130-200
Anti roll bars:
(F mm) 15 17 20 25 28 28.5 30
(R mm) 15 17 20 22 25 30
WHEELS
Speedline
Tarmac: 18x8" SL856 (Type 2013)
Gravel: 15x7" SL846 (Type 2011)
Snow: 16x5.5" SL846 (Type 2011)
BRAKES
AP Callipers and vented discs
Front Rear
Tarmac: 366mm 6 pot * 304mm 4 pot
Gravel: 304mm 4 pot 304mm 4 pot
Snow: 330mm 4 pot 304mm 4 pot
* optionally water cooled
Pads:
Pagid RS44 Orange
Pagid RS12 Grey
Pagid RS42 Blue
CAR DIMENSIONS
Length: 4340mm
Width: 1690mm
Height: 1405mm
Wheelbase: 2520mm
Front track: 1465mm
Rear track: 1465mm
Weight: 1230kg FIA regulation minimum
FIA HOMOLOGATION
Group A: A5480
Validity: 1st April 1993 to 31st December 2010
Source - http://impreza555.com/specs.htm
SUBARU IMPREZA 555 GROUP A STATISTICS AND RESULTS
CARS
During the four years that Prodrive and Subaru campaigned the Impreza 555 only 9 distinct number plates were assigned to the works cars while competing in the WRC. All bar one of the registrations featured the numerics 555, the exception being N1WRC as used by Colin McRae in 1996. All in all, Prodrive built 63 Group A specification Imprezas with a significant number of these being used to re-shell the works cars and hence carried the familiar number plates.
L555BAT
L555REP
L555SRT
L555STE
M555STE
N1WRC
N555BAT
N555SRT
N555WRC
DRIVERS
Ten drivers competed in WRC rallies as work's entries during the 1992-1996 seasons, with two of them - Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz - winning rallies outright in the car. The Asia Pacific championship was also contested with both Colin McRae and Possum Bourne taking wins.
Ari Vatanen (Finland)
Carlos Sainz (Spain)
Colin McRae (Great Britain)
Didier Auriol (France)
Kenneth Eriksson (Sweden)
Markku Alen (Finland)
Mats Jonsson (Sweden)
Piero Liatti (Italy)
Possum Bourne (New Zealand)
Richard Burns (Great Britain)
RALLIES
1993 - Only two rallies were entered in the brand new Impreza 555, the others being contested in the outgoing group A Legacy. Ari Vatanen almost clinched victory on it's debut in Finland, setting 15 fastest stage times and finally coming home second. The sister car, driven by Markku Alen, crashed out just after the start.
On Rally GB Vatanen came home a little off the pace in fifth while Colin McRae retired with a punctured radiator.
| 1000 Lakes (Finland) | 2nd DNF | Vatanen Alen | L555BAT L555STE |
| Great Britain | 5th DNF | Vatanen McRae | L555STE L555BAT |
1994 - The '94 car was of similar specification to the '93 model but now used Pirelli tyres instead of Michelin and featured a cockpit adjustable hydraulic front differential. A fully active centre differential was introduced for the Tour de Corse rally and was subsequently used in future rallies.
Carlos Sainz joined Subaru after a difficult year at Lancia to partner Colin McRae in a full WRC program. A string of podium finishes for one or other of the drivers, but rarely both, lead to second place in the Manufacturer's championship just behind Toyota. The Group A Impreza 555's first outright win came on the '94 Acropolis Rally and this was followed up by five more victories in the WRC and Asia-Pacific Championship that year.
| Monte Carlo | 3rd 10th | Sainz McRae | L555REP L555SRT |
| Portugal | 4th DNF | Sainz McRae | L555STE L555BAT |
| Corsica (France) | 2nd DNF | Sainz McRae | L555REP L555BAT |
| Acropolis (Greece) | 1st EXC | Sainz McRae | L555REP L555BAT |
| Indonesia | 2nd DNF | Bourne Burns | |
| Argentina | 2nd DNF | Sainz McRae | L555REP L555BAT |
| New Zealand | 1st DNF DNF DNF | McRae Sainz Bourne Burns | L555BAT L555REP L555STE L555SRT |
| Malaysia | 1st 2nd | Bourne Burns | |
| 1000 Lakes (Finland) | 3rd | Sainz | L555REP |
| Australia | 1st 4th | McRae Bourne | |
| Sanremo | 2nd 5th | Sainz McRae | L555REP L555BAT |
| Hong Kong-Peking | 1st 2nd | Bourne Burns | |
| Great Britain | 1st DNF DNF | McRae Sainz Burns | L555BAT L555REP M555STE |
| Thailand | 2nd | Burns |
1995 - New for '95 were moulded slicks (17% tread pattern) to replace full-on slicks on the tarmac events. The turbo restrictor was also reduced in size from 38mm to 34mm to try to limit engine performance. Both of these changes were universally unpopular with the WRC drivers.
Optimization of the gear ratios, camshaft profiles, compression ratio, engine mapping and the introduction of anti-lag ensured the Impreza 555's raw speed over the stages was barely affected by these regulatory changes. The transmission was upgraded to be fully active with the addition of an electronically controlled front differential.
With Carlos Sainz and Colin McRae still the primary drivers, the mandatory 3rd team car (new championship regulation) was filled on a rotational basis by Piero Liatti, Richard Burns and Possum Bourne. After the disaster of all three cars retiring from the Swedish rally with identical oil pressure valve problems, the season picked up. Five outright victories on WRC events, including two Impreza podium lock-outs in Spain and GB, resulted in the Manufacturer's Title for Subaru and the Driver's Title for Colin McRae. McRae clinched the title on home soil at Rally GB in the November.
| Monte Carlo | 1st 8th DNF | Sainz Liatti McRae | L555REP M555STE L555BAT |
| Sweden | DNF DNF DNF | Sainz McRae Jonsson | L555REP L555BAT M555STE |
| Portugal | 1st 3rd 7th | Sainz McRae Burns | L555REP L555BAT M555STE |
| Corsica (France) | 4th 5th 6th | Sainz McRae Liatti | L555REP L555BAT M555STE |
| Indonesia | 1st 7th | McRae Bourne | |
| New Zealand | 1st 7th DNF | McRae Bourne Burns | L555BAT M555STE L555REP |
| Malaysia | DNF DNF | McRae Bourne | |
| Australia | 2nd DNF DNF | McRae Sainz Bourne | L555BAT L555REP M555STE |
| Hong Kong-Peking | 3rd 4th | Burns Bourne | |
| Catalunya (Spain) | 1st 2nd 3rd | Sainz McRae Liatti | L555REP L555BAT M555STE |
| Great Britain | 1st 2nd 3rd | McRae Sainz Burns | L555BAT L555REP M555STE |
| Thailand | 3rd 4th 5th | Burns Liatti Bourne |
1996 - Development of the car in '96 was limited due to imminent major rule changes in '97 with the introduction of World Rally Cars. The new Impreza WRC was to be based on the 2-door 'Retna' shell and featured Peter Stevens developed wide arches and large rear wing. The drivetrain was pretty much pure Group A 555 carry over.
With Carlos Sainz departing for Ford, taking his Repsol sponsorship package with him, Kenneth Eriksson was recruited as a replacement. Richard Burns' move to Mistubishi for a full time drive meant Piero Liatti gained full time status as the 3rd driver in the Impreza 555.
Good results were posted once more with three WRC victories, all being scored by Colin McRae, and a couple more 1st in the AP Championship split between McRae and Eriksson. This was enough to secure a second Manufacturer's Title. McRae finished second in the Driver's Championship, behind Mistubishi's Tommi Makinen who won his first of four consecutive titles for the rival Japanese manufacturer. The era of the works Group A Impreza 555 ended on a high note however with a 1-2 in Catalunya for Colin McRae and Piero Liatti.
| Sweden | 3rd 5th 10th 12th | McRae Eriksson Auriol Liatti | N1WRC N555WRC N555BAT N555SRT |
| Thailand | 1st 2nd 3rd | McRae Eriksson Liatti | N1WRC L555STE L555SRT |
| Safari (Kenya) | 2nd 4th 5th | Eriksson McRae Liatti | N555WRC N1WRC M555STE |
| Indonesia | 2nd DNF DNF | Liatti McRae Eriksson | L555SRT N1WRC N555WRC |
| Acropolis (Greece) | 1st 4th 5th | McRae Liatti Eriksson | N1WRC N555SRT N555WRC |
| Malaysia | 1st DNF | Eriksson Liatti | L555STE L555SRT |
| Argentina | 3rd 7th DNF | Eriksson Liatti McRae | N555WRC N555BAT N1WRC |
| New Zealand | 2nd 3rd | Eriksson Liatti | L555STE L555SRT |
| 1000 Lakes (Finland) | 5th DNF | Eriksson McRae | N555WRC N1WRC |
| Australia | 2nd 4th 7th | Eriksson McRae Liatti | N555WRC N1WRC N555BAT |
| Sanremo | 1st 5th DNF | McRae Eriksson Liatti | N1WRC N555WRC N555BAT |
| Hong Kong-Peking | DNF DNF | Eriksson Liatti | |
| Catalunya (Spain) | 1st 2nd 7th | McRae Liatti Eriksson | N1WRC N555BAT N555WRC |
Source - http://impreza555.com/stats.htm
