A Subaru Impreza won the group N class in a round of the World Rally Championship for the first time 𒐪in 28 events at the Network Q Rally of Great Britain.

Former British rally champion, David Higgins, in his Barrett's Motorsport Subaru Impreza, beat off stiff competition from the Mitsubishi Lancers to w🀅in by just 2.8 secs from the second placed car of Peruvian driver Ferreyros.

Higgins was driving the latest specification Subaru Impreza from Prodrive which fea♋tures a new five-speed 'dog-box' and Ohlins suspension. Both were introduced for 2001 under the new regulations, dramatically improving the performance of the Impreza.

"We have been campaigning with Group N Imprezas fo🥃r five years," said Paul Barrett, m🐭anaging director of Barretts Motorsport. "When we first tested the 2001 car back in January, we immediately knew it was something special. The new dog box has turned it into a car which is now more than a match for the Mitsubishi Lancers."

The rally of Great B🌃ritain was the first time that Higgins had driven the Impreza on gravel. Being unseeded, he was unable to run at shakedown and o🃏nly managed to get a half day of set-up time prior to the event. Despite this, he quickly adapted to the conditions and drove a near faultless rally.

"꧅In the whole three days we only had to change brake discs and pads twice as well as making a precautionary oil change. The gearbox was still in mint condition and I am confident the car could have easily have done the same distance again with no problems at all," saiꦛd Barrett.

Just four 2001 specification Group N Imprezas still remain as ﷽Prodrive continues its development of 🔥the new shape car which will be available from February 2002.