THE 20th anniversary of Colin McRae’s World Rally Championship title will be celebrated on next month’s Wales Rally GB with a special Subaru entry for David Higgins and his Lydney based co-driver Craig Drew.

The five-time North American champions have just secured another title, winning all eight rounds of the series in their Subaru USA Impreza.

The duo will drive a JRM prepared Group N/R4 Subaru Impreza in the old 555 livery from Colin’s Subaru days.

The event organisers have a variety of static displays to commemorate his championship success, but this entry from Subaru USA will bring back many memories of that iconic livery and will provide a fitting tribute to the man who put British rallying firmly back on the map.

It will be Higgins’ first attempt on Britain’s home world championship rally since 2008 and he’s excited by the prospect.

"Its fantastic to be back with this car. Both myself and my brother Mark became good friends with Colin,” said Higgins

"There’s definitely going to be a lot of emotion and interest around this years event,and it will remind people just how big Colin McRae was and still is. I will do my utmost to represent Colin’s memory.”

For Drew, 2007 represented his last outing on Rally Wales GB with Simon Harraway in a Group N Impreza.

"In 2007 I was just making my way in the sport as a clubman, and to do your home WRC rally is the pinnacle of the sport,” he said.

"But to come back this year and be part of this celebration is a fantastic opportunity. To be back in the British forests competing against the world’s best drivers, it’s something I am really looking forward to.

“Growing up both Colin and Richard Burns really put British rallying at the forefront, it’s hard to think both are sadly no longer with us but it was Colin’s all action flat out driving style that endeared him to millions of fans worldwide and it is really nice to see this evocative livery grace a Subaru again on our home WRC event.”

Higgins will have an opportunity to test the car prior to the event in a mid-Wales forest.

The event has attracted a full 165 car entry with 80 in the international field and 85 in the Network Q National Rally.

For further information go to www.walesrallygb.com