This Is The WRX STI That Subaru Sold With Steelies

This stripped-back second-gen WRX STI that was built to homologate the model for Group N racing is expected to go for £20,000-£25,000

                                        https://www.carscoops.com/author/bradcarscoops-com/                                    

It’s hard to keep track of all the Subaru Impreza WRX variants that have been launched over the decades, and here’s one you may have never known existed. Known as the Spec C and based on the second-gen model, it was sold exclusively in Japan as a lightweight version of the STI that was meant to homologate the model for WRC’s Group N category.

Iconic Auctioneers, which is selling this STI Spec C in the UK, points out that, due to its nature, Subaru expected most owners to fit wheels of their choosing. Many did just that, but this one retains the steelies and is all the cooler for it.

Read: Subaru Teased The Perfect WRX Then Pretended It Didn’t Exist

A 2006 model, the Impreza is painted in Pure White and has never been involved in an accident. The exterior looks to be in good condition given the car’s age and the fact that it has been driven over 64,000 km (39,800 miles). In crafting the Spec C as the ultimate, race-ready variant of the WRX STI, Subaru fitted it with thinner glass and aluminum body panels. It even has a little hatch on the roof to bring some air into the cabin to cool it down somewhat and make the crew lives a bit easier since climate control brings extra weight, something that’s a no-no in racing.

Found beneath the lightened hood is Subaru’s EJ207 2.0-liter turbocharged flat-four with 316 hp and 318 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual transmission comes standard, as does Subaru’s brilliant Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system. This WRX also sports STI-tuned Bilstein dampers, reinforced subframes, and thicker stabilizer bars.

It’s unknown when this example was imported into the United Kingdom, but it’s likely one of just a handful that made the long journey over from Japan. The auction house expects it to sell for between £20,000 ($26,700) and £25,000 ($33,400). If you live in the UK and want the most hardcore STI of its era, be sure to tune in to the auction, taking place on August 23 at the Silverstone circuit.