This Subaru Impreza is the genuine Asia-Pacific Rally Championship Group A (A8) rally car, previously rebuilt using the original shell engineered by New Zealand's Possum Bourne Motorsport (PBMS). Bourne’s team designed and built the original car based on the works Prodrive cars of the period. It is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre ‘EJ20’ flat-four, coupled to a six-speed manual gearbox with Atlas internals. The car was initially built by PBMS in New Zealand for Subaru Rally Team Australia’s lead driver Peter Raymond George ‘Possum’ Bourne to compete in the 2002 FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), first racing in New Zealand’s Parker-Enzed Rally of Rotorua in June 2002. It took Bourne to first place of the Japanese Hokkaido Rally in September 2002 (a round of the APRC), his last win before his death in April 2003, and remained in Japan for the V-Rally International Alpine Rally in October, where it placed 2nd. Upon Bourne's death, the car was returned to its original team workshop in NZ and stripped to the shell. In 2004, the caged shell was sold to Bruce Herbert; the 2001, 2002 and 2003 New Zealand rally champion, and was rebuilt using Impreza parts from his Group N car that had crashed in Rally NZ with Stumpy Holmes behind the wheel. It was also converted from LHD to RHD at this point. This rebuilt car using the original rally-winning shell was then acquired by a gentleman racer and driven in the Targa New Zealand, benefiting from regular maintenance by WRC Developments in Napier, managed by two former Prodrive (UK) specialists. The car was last driven in competition at the 2019 Eifel Rally in Germany and Rally Legend in San Marino. It was subsequently imported to the UK and registered as ‘W555 ROJ’, in keeping with Bourne’s famous competition plates, and has since been exported to Australia where it is now offered for sale with ‘Race or Rally’ import approval. Accompanying the vehicle will be its previous Motorsport UK vehicle passport and New Zealand logbook, along with a Possum Bourne book, Australian Government importation documents, and a list of some of the previous owners. The seller reports that this car was manufactured as a competition rally car and has since been taken from Group N to Group A specification and now can no longer be entered as a Group N car. It is eligible to be entered as a Group A vehicle, notwithstanding that there are still more Group A components that could be added to the car. The car comes finished in its 2002 Hokaido Rally livery, with decals from Subaru Rally Team Australia, Pirelli, Havoline Racing and others. The 2.0-litre engine has been remapped by Warren Heath and Terry Stamper to run on 105 octane fuel, and now also features Carrillo conrods, Omega pistons, uprated studs and a Group A-style IHI turbo. While not the original engine, this motor has reportedly been taken to the same Group A8 specifications. It produces approximately 325hp with an MSUK restrictor on 105 octane fuel. It can be converted to run on 97 octane fuel with a simple re-map. Fuel supply comes from an ATL cell and Bosch pumps. The front differential is open, with a viscous centre and a plated limited-slip differential at the rear. The car rides on Proflex suspension with heavy duty crossmembers. A Brembo brake kit has been installed, comprising new rotors, hats and callipers. The front end has a set of Group A headlights with Hella 400 spotlights, while the underbody has been fitted with protective Kevlar plates and an aluminium sump guard. Inside, the cabin features a set of Sparco bucket seats and Schroth harnesses, though the original Prodrive driver’s seat will also be supplied. Interior equipment includes a Coralba trip computer, a Motech flocked dashboard and data logger, a Peltor intercom, PBMS carbon footplates, new door panels, a map holder, a Terratrip mount and several fire extinguishers. Also included are four spare 18-inch Compomotive wheels fitted with Yokohama AO50 soft tyres. Please refer to the photo gallery to assess the exterior and interior condition. Its Hokkaido Rally livery comes with a few blemishes on both bumpers, the rear wing and around the roof scoop, but this is all to be expected from an active rally car. Inside, there is some age-related wear to the Sparco steering wheel, gear knob and Alactara-trimmed dashboard, but the bucket seats are said to be in excellent condition. The seller is not aware of any mechanical or electrical faults. The most recent maintenance was in June 2023, when KRE Race Engines tuned the car, and race mechanic Nick Petrons serviced all four dampers and checked all oil levels. Prior to this, the car has reportedly been meticulously maintained, benefiting from regular fluid and filter changes, along with a cam belt replacement in 2019. Since arriving in Australia, the car has been in the collection of Triple Eight Race Engineering founder, Roland Dane, and has been maintained regardless of cost by his ex-Prodrive personal mechanic, Nick Petrons. The car has been used purely for the Noosa Hillclimb over the last few years. This Subaru Impreza is an impressive rally car, rebuilt using the genuine Group A shell that took Subaru Rally Team Australia’s 'Possum Bourne to first place in the 2002 Hokkaido Rally. It was comprehensively rebuilt after his death in 2003 using components from Bruce Herbert’s rally-winning Group N car (another well-known Impreza), and would now make a competitive historic rally entrant, or a fantastic addition to a motorsport-themed collection. The description of this consignment is, to the best of the seller’s knowledge, accurate and not misleading. Collecting Cars requests a range of detail about the lot from the seller, and performs a level of due diligence. However, potential buyers must satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of the description, and conduct any research they feel is necessary before committing to bid or buy. For vehicles, unless otherwise stated, potential buyers should also assume that any cherished registration may be retained by the seller. Please see our Terms and Conditions for full details.