Reference photo sources : Subaru Impreza WRC in 2000 Monte Carlo Rally

[hiergehts]

A friend gave me a mint example of Tamiya's Subaru Impreza WRC 1999 (#24218) from his stash for helping him out.

I'd like to do Juha Kankkunen's car from the 2000 Monte Carlo Rally but have not been able to find decent reference photos of it. Can anyone suggest a website or two?

TIA
Hiergehts

[rallymaster]

I don't have many things under my hands but here are two from the outside.
I'll try to find some inside references too, cos' 2000 early season version has nothing to deal with 99' Tamiya version (sequential gear shift on stearing column, hydraulic hand brake etc etc)

[hiergehts]

Thanks for the reply and photos Phil.

I have not built a 'modern' WRC car before so did not know of the internal changes between the 1999 and 2000 Impreza WRC. I wanted to build a model that is accurate and uses the kit tarmac wheels/tires but the kit decals are OK only (typical Tamiya thick..).

While I like Juha Kankkunen, I am not 'set' on doing his car specifically so if you have suggestions for another, similar livery that is more accurate to this kit as it is now using a readily available aftermarket decal I would enjoy hearing about it.

Thanks again.

Andrew

[rallymaster]

Well, teh real problem is that Tamiya release the 99 Corsica version, which was first race of new evolution, without putting new parts of this evolution !
Building an accurate version with this kit is almost impossible, at least without modifications, because parts are 98 season ones.
If I'm not wrong this version, 99 body (with unique air scoop on roof) with 98 inside, only raced as works team from Monte Carlo to Corsica), but I'm even not sure the new sequential gear shift hasn't been tested before Corsica where it was admitted as evolution.
So building a official livery 99 car with this kit let you the possibility only to build version from Monte Carlo to Corsica (not included) being sure it was stricty identical to 98 inside (my last doubt) till Corsica.
For me the best solution is to keep the idea of building Monte Carlo 2000 version or a ending season rally from 99 with modifications, if you don't care and can scratch build some parts.
99 Corsica evolution can be done by erasing central tunnel gear shift traces and putting the gear shift on stearing column, modifying the hand brake to the hydraulic one (higher and longer) and maybe a few other things, but nothing impossible.
Here are some pics of the modified/scratchbuilt parts I did for mine (in fact a "real" 2000 version - appeared in Portugal with new front face but same inside as 99 Corsica driven as private car in 2001 German rally by Achim Mörtl).


New handbrake (sill missing the hydraulic valves at the rear of the part):



Sequential gear shifter on stearing column:



Cleaned central tunnel:




Hope this helps, I'll try to find pics of the inside.
If you don't want to modify and scratch build the parts, I think there isn't many possibilities, probably 99 Monte Carlo is the closest version to this kit one (and KKK finished second !)

[hiergehts]

Thanks again for the reply and info. Very helpful... Obviously I look forward to future replies!

I am fine fabbing parts so what would be needed (within reason) to build Juha's 2000 Monte Carlo as I originally intended besides the sequential gear shift & hydraulic hand brake? What other visible changes are needed?

Cheers,
Andrew

[rallymaster]

Originally Posted by hiergehts

Thanks again for the reply and info. Very helpful... Obviously I look forward to future replies!

I am fine fabbing parts so what would be needed (within reason) to build Juha's 2000 Monte Carlo as I originally intended besides the sequential gear shift & hydraulic hand brake? What other visible changes are needed?

Cheers,
Andrew

Checking the books I have, it appears that these changes are the only visible ones so if modifying/scratchbuilding these parts you should be able to represent enough accurately Juha's 2000 MC car.
It's hard to see/know about all the wiring setting and location or electronic boxes inside the car, I wouldn't swear eveyrthing is the same knowing the gear shift and handbrake additions in this version, but it's almost impossible anyway to build and place everything of a WRC strictly identical into a model kit...
So I think that if you replace the part I mentioned, you'll have a 99% accurate Juha's car for 2000 french opening season event.

[Seamus McRae]

I seem to recall Phil, that early in the evolution of the WRC99, Prodrive had some niggling issues with the paddle gearchange system & retained the standard gearshift on the tunnel (obviously setup to be sequential). IIRC it had something to do with the system reverting to default when the hydraulics failed & either locked the car in gear, which subsequently locked the centre diff, or somehow connected itself with the hydraulic handbrake. Either way, once they worked out the gremlins, they obviously had to retain the shift on the tunnel (disconnected) as it had been homologated as part of the new package. For the P2000, they removed the tunnel shifter altogether.

[Seamus McRae]

And Phil's right. Aside from the gearshift/handbrake changes, there were no other visible changes to the car. The WRC99 was always only going to be a 'concept' or 'train of thought' (so to speak) between the WRC98 & all the techo evolutions Prodrive came up with for the P2000, most of which found themselves in the new body WRC01.
So, you really have 3 options with this kit: source some ST27 Monte 99 decals (readily avail); as per kit with noted mods; source some Monte 00 decals & do the mods. Which is what I did - along with painting the rims a steel colour, used on the first 3 rallies (Monte, Swedish, Safari) instead of the usual gold

[rallymaster]

Originally Posted by Seamus McRae

I seem to recall Phil, that early in the evolution of the WRC99, Prodrive had some niggling issues with the paddle gearchange system & retained the standard gearshift on the tunnel (obviously setup to be sequential). IIRC it had something to do with the system reverting to default when the hydraulics failed & either locked the car in gear, which subsequently locked the centre diff, or somehow connected itself with the hydraulic handbrake. Either way, once they worked out the gremlins, they obviously had to retain the shift on the tunnel (disconnected) as it had been homologated as part of the new package. For the P2000, they removed the tunnel shifter altogether.

Hi buddy,
great precisions, thanks !
that's why I said I didn't remember exactly when the sequential gear shift was used alone, on some pics the central tunnel gear shift location is covered with a piece of carbon, on some there isn't anything anymore, and according to your precisions they used the former system combined with new one on some rallies.
I know that the early season was chaotic for their gear system, but -correct me if I'm wrong - they already got the shifter on stearing column in Monte Carlo, so that modification has to be done; only thing to verify then, rally by rally, is when/where they still had a complete gear shift on central tunnel (I already know they didn't in Argentina) and when they had a carbon cover and finaly nothing !
So if I'm not wrong, any 99 version need mods, but depending on the rally chosen gear shift on central tunnel hsan't inevitably to disappear.
pffffiioo... That's why I prefer Peugeot to Subaru !!

[Seamus McRae]

Originally Posted by rallymaster

pffffiioo... That's why I prefer Peugeot to Subaru !!

Lol good one Phil. I don't recall the Monte 99 car having it, as this was essentially still the WRC98 homologation, which didn't have the coloumn sequential. Remember they can only homologate a 'new' car once per season. You're certainly right about it being event specific. The system was especially prone to failure on any rough gravel events, like Acropolis, China or Safari (00) so the regular tunnel shift was used (in sequential mode not H pattern). For the smoother tarmac rallies like San Remo or Catalunya, it was definitely used. I can't remember which system was used in Finland or Australia though.

[Seamus McRae]

Originally Posted by hiergehts

Thanks again for the reply and info. Very helpful... Obviously I look forward to future replies!

I am fine fabbing parts so what would be needed (within reason) to build Juha's 2000 Monte Carlo as I originally intended besides the sequential gear shift & hydraulic hand brake? What other visible changes are needed?

Cheers,
Andrew

If you couldn't be faffed scratching the required items Andrew, you could always order them as spares from Tamiya. The parts in question would be found in either of the WRC01 kits.

[hiergehts]

Thanks for the additional replies and info guys. All are very helpful and much appreciated.

I found out this morning that the decal I'd intended to get to do Juha's 2000 Monte car is not available through the source I'd gone with. Instead, if he has it, I may end up doing one of the '99 Monte cars instead? My choices relate to wanting to build this one more or less OOB and as a tarmac car.

[Seamus McRae]

If you can get those decals, you'll be sorted then. Also, it's up to you which way you go with belts. Prodrive fitted the car with blue belts from 99 onwards, as opposed to the red ones

[hiergehts]

Thanks Seamus, if that is the case then I'd go for the blue belts.

A bit of personal inspiration here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weuLkxOJ-_c

[Seamus McRae]

Thanks for the link Andrew. Damn I love that car, especially in tarmac trim