Great, emotional memories this creates. I was in Clocaenog when Colin McRae won the 95 world rally title, having driven there in my new Subaru Impreza Turbo. I have had several versions of them since, a few being full Prodrive road versions - over 500k miles! Still have an STi with the Prodrive PPP. Can't let these cars go - amazing what these memories do to us humans!
@@goncaloferreira72 I have had four Impreza Turbos. 3 from new and 1 second hand (the current STi). I have had one on the drive continually since 1995. So yes, over 500k miles in four of them.
@@peterevans6682 1995 is my year of birth! I wish I could have one, someday! Thank you for answering my question, I bet it is a lovely car. Have fun and stay safe! Wish you a happy new year.
Excellent chat with two extremely modest gents... I marshalled the Network Q in Wales in '98. 1st and (so far ) only visit to the UK. Funniest thing I saw was a fully dressed police Volvo chasing a drunk driver on a night stage at Cheltenham horse park☺
2 legends for me of golden era of the WRC. Remember chipping back to Chester to watch the finish and then heading back down to home in Reading in the full Team Gear purchased earlier. Every wherever we stopped we had people of all ages mistakenly coming upto to us and congratulating us on the victory, hand shaking and the likes such was the following of the sport back in those days
These guys gave Subaru (especially) an image boost like no other. Younger people may not realize the weird "granola" image Subaru had prior to Prodrive. Between the rally wins (and the Outback trim package in America) Subaru was saved from extinction. Richards years ago mentioned a consistent, persistent campaign in motorsport can have lasting effect. Still today, that 555 blue & yellow is associated with the Prodrive Subaru era.
Great video @dirtfish! Buy one David get two free! Absolutely loved this open chat with Lappy, DR and the maestro himself David Evan’s all of them #ChasingCars for many many years!
I love how proud Lappy looks at 22:25. These guys got me to love rallying. My 4 year old girl knows what a Subaru is. Blue and yellow is still symbolic, even to this day, 16 years after SWRT ended. It's crazy to think of it that way.
Brilliant video, some great memories of two very modest but pivotal figures in our sport. I remember scrutineering for the ‘93 RAC RALLY in Birmingham, Colin and Richard were there signing autographs, but we also wanted Dave Richards’ autograph, and he was surprised at the attention and modest to a fault as he came over and chatted with the fans. To me, those talented people, either who engineer the cars, or build and manage organisations, like the two Davids, are equally legendary in my book 🙌
Great nostalgic look back at Prodrives history , one early memory of Prodrive was watching in Ceri forest, the big inflatable service tent , and Ari Vatanen pre RAC testing the Legacy. Then to see a helicopter land and prodrive personnel going to pick up Nick Faldo ( golfer ) and Ari giving him a ride in the rally car 👌
@@DirtFish Eurosports cameraman came to me and asked how did I find that corner? He has followed toprallying 5years without seeing that kind of mistake. I said that I'am a Finnish rallydriver and we can read the road. Last year 1991 I filmed Vatanen's Leustu roll in 1000 Lakes. He was totally depressed and the he asked me that how are we travelling between stages? He has seen us in previus stage also and they had helicopter. I said that we have Audi 1.6 diesel and papermap........that was icebraker for him and he laugh his head off.
mad as toast, iv stood on a bridge on M56 to go see the rally cars hahaha. my 1st toy car was that rothmans mk2..... aaaaah rallying, nothing like it in he world :)
Thanks for remember all of us the history and the best times in the WRC! We need a Prodrive and Subaru Come Back in the 2027 new rules!! 🔝🙌. The big boss and your right hand engine man Thanks for created the Iconic and legends Blue Rally Cars.. Forever Subaru (555 🏁💙
25:55 Interesting to hear DR's remarks about the internet. My days as a motorsport journalist in Kenya predated Prodrive's Safari efforts by a couple of years. But my boyhood hero and later friend Shekhar Mehta, by then FIA President for the WRC, introduced us at the time of the 2001 Monte. A long story short, a team of Canadian/Swiss boffins worked on a Lotus Notes-based case management rendition to provide _real-time_ stage and cumulative event data via at a minimum, but also possibilities of small dirigible-mounted [nowadays drones] live feed cameras. But the promised follow-up ended up as an absolute stonewalling exercise. DR hadn't anything to do with that as far as I know; I spoke to an unpleasant oik in the ointment. I suggest we could've provided excellent viewing/data services for rallying fans two decades ago.
The subaru techy training centre great bridge were I worked is a pile of bricks now rem cooking for the 3 Japanese heads of subaru Daihatsu isuzu they all bowed in the boardroom after the meal it was emotional nice being respected for a change
Why haven't we got the wrc in Britain it's a disgrace all those forests and great roads being stuck in the snow on rac rally in Wales and Scotland and lake district sleeping in car with cb radios poor kids today never going see group b rest in peace colin jonny and gavin
Money!! There aren't any sponsors/backers remotely interested; the sport has fallen so far off the radar, there's no value in it. And a lot of it is self-inflicted.....
@Andy_ATB maybe Elon the colon might invest .... rally electric be as boring as the formula e we can all play Scalextric or rc cars racing hot wheels on my sons drag strip more exciting
I really dont think there should be a space for EVs in motorsport. Sure if you want to develop battery technology or whatever, go to formula e. But other motorsport series, are supossed to be exciting, cars that compete in motorsports are PERFORMANCE machines and said machines should also be EXCITING, thats why perfomance EVs are not selling well, well no EV is but specially performance ones. People, rightlly, find then boring as hell. Just imagine how boring WRC would be if you didnt have screaming engines through the forests. I made a poll this year, on the WRCs official subreddit, asking people if theyd still watch the WRC if it went eletric, about 50% said they wouldnt, Im one of them.
Could of had a subaru wrx as company car but unfortunately the ex staff Sargeant who was above me thought thought he was special so didn't end well ...no chef no dinner 😂 no subaru in Lanark we wernt taught too put with idiots colin didn't either 😂
Please God no EV 😢 there are plenty of high performance synthetic fuels etc that give that proper engine note . Otago Rally for me is what all rallying should be based on proper decent stages categories for Allcomers etc where privateers can go head to head with the big boys . Rallying sadly like everything else is on its knees IMO i mean take The Snowman Rally all the big names have driven it over the years but 2025 there is no Snowman Rally because of access to forests it’s sad . Otago Rally for me is the blueprint for rallying ok there’s no snow or ice but you’re properly exhausted after the rally because not only is it a test of car but it’s a test of drivers endurance also . Great chat from 2 of rallyings legends if anyone can make something decent change or happen it’s DR 🤝👍
Great, emotional memories this creates. I was in Clocaenog when Colin McRae won the 95 world rally title, having driven there in my new Subaru Impreza Turbo. I have had several versions of them since, a few being full Prodrive road versions - over 500k miles! Still have an STi with the Prodrive PPP. Can't let these cars go - amazing what these memories do to us humans!
We witnessed one of motorsports greatest moments that day!
You did more than 500k in all of then together or on a single car?
Thank you for sharing this story, by the way! 😊
@@goncaloferreira72 I have had four Impreza Turbos. 3 from new and 1 second hand (the current STi). I have had one on the drive continually since 1995. So yes, over 500k miles in four of them.
@@peterevans6682 1995 is my year of birth! I wish I could have one, someday! Thank you for answering my question, I bet it is a lovely car. Have fun and stay safe! Wish you a happy new year.
@@goncaloferreira72 And the same to you!
Many thanks DirtFish for a superb interview with 2 of Rallying's greats.
A fabulous interview !
.
.
Great interview!!! Plenty of memories.......
Thank you so much for this David and Team Dirtfish. Dirtfish is 100% the best thing to happen in rallying for a very long time. Roll on 25 WRC!! ❤️❤️
See you there 💪
Prodrive are/were one of the most monumental companies in motorsport to me.
Another good video, be great to have more if this kind of stuff. Well done Dirt Fish and David Evans
Excellent chat with two extremely modest gents... I marshalled the Network Q in Wales in '98. 1st and (so far ) only visit to the UK. Funniest thing I saw was a fully dressed police Volvo chasing a drunk driver on a night stage at Cheltenham horse park☺
2 legends for me of golden era of the WRC. Remember chipping back to Chester to watch the finish and then heading back down to home in Reading in the full Team Gear purchased earlier. Every wherever we stopped we had people of all ages mistakenly coming upto to us and congratulating us on the victory, hand shaking and the likes such was the following of the sport back in those days
These guys gave Subaru (especially) an image boost like no other.
Younger people may not realize the weird "granola" image Subaru had prior to Prodrive.
Between the rally wins (and the Outback trim package in America) Subaru was saved from extinction.
Richards years ago mentioned a consistent, persistent campaign in motorsport can have lasting effect.
Still today, that 555 blue & yellow is associated with the Prodrive Subaru era.
Dirtfish you never fail us, always brilliant content
Thank you David Evan's , brilliant interview with 2 absolute legends of our sport 👏
Fantastic video! Thank you. 🙏🏻 Would love to see Prodrive back in the WRC when the new regs come into force in a few years.
Great video @dirtfish! Buy one David get two free! Absolutely loved this open chat with Lappy, DR and the maestro himself David Evan’s all of them #ChasingCars for many many years!
I love how proud Lappy looks at 22:25. These guys got me to love rallying. My 4 year old girl knows what a Subaru is. Blue and yellow is still symbolic, even to this day, 16 years after SWRT ended. It's crazy to think of it that way.
Excellent interview, bought back some great memories of the 22 years I spent there. I have the greatest respect for these two gentlemen.
that was a great treat before the year ends.....watched the whole video with my miniature rothmans 1981 escort beside me ❤🚗
Brilliant video, some great memories of two very modest but pivotal figures in our sport. I remember scrutineering for the ‘93 RAC RALLY in Birmingham, Colin and Richard were there signing autographs, but we also wanted Dave Richards’ autograph, and he was surprised at the attention and modest to a fault as he came over and chatted with the fans. To me, those talented people, either who engineer the cars, or build and manage organisations, like the two Davids, are equally legendary in my book 🙌
Pro-drive, was always my go to, when I rallied ...!
Prodrive in future will have a status like a legend team, as today. Thanks from Italy..
Mates rallying his mk2 escort next year can't wait got my bucket and sponge ready his engine is heaven
Great interview,two down to earth blokes
Brilliant video!!!
Fantastic watch, thanks for putting this together.
Thank you Sirs for sharing your experiences here.
Great nostalgic look back at Prodrives history , one early memory of Prodrive was watching in Ceri forest, the big inflatable service tent , and Ari Vatanen pre RAC testing the Legacy. Then to see a helicopter land and prodrive personnel going to pick up Nick Faldo ( golfer ) and Ari giving him a ride in the rally car 👌
Everything David Richards touched turned to gold.
Glory days of the RAC was when it went from one side of the country to the other and everyone got the opportunity to see the cars fly past
that was awesome
Brilliant interview with the two top men @ prodrive
My first even video was “The VATANAN TOUCH”
good work David & dirt fish team 👏👏👌
Great drivers Ari and Colin , I took that video from Finland 1992 (38.10)
Wow! Incredible… glad you enjoyed! 🎥
@@DirtFish
Eurosports cameraman came to me and asked how did I find that corner? He has followed toprallying 5years without seeing that kind of mistake. I said that I'am a Finnish rallydriver and we can read the road. Last year 1991 I filmed Vatanen's Leustu roll in 1000 Lakes. He was totally depressed and the he asked me that how are we travelling between stages? He has seen us in previus stage also and they had helicopter. I said that we have Audi 1.6 diesel and papermap........that was icebraker for him and he laugh his head off.
Dirtfish is the best rally channel on YT and television... may I say the best motorsport channel?
Hoping you would cover WEC as well
Fantastic video and great memories
Now that was an interesting trip down the memory lane and behind the curtains.
I totally agree with DR on where the WRC should go from here.
Pure gold!
You always know you're passing Banbury on the M40 when you see the Prodrive sign!
All I can say is BLOODY GREAT VIDEO 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Thx Prodrive 🇫🇮🫡
Brilliant!
legend of subaru
Brilliant
Shame kids can’t go into clocaenog forest and watch Wales rally GB now aye David 😂
I’m sure that Drakeford put a stop to Rally Wales GB , politicians are utter scum 🏴
mad as toast, iv stood on a bridge on M56 to go see the rally cars hahaha. my 1st toy car was that rothmans mk2..... aaaaah rallying, nothing like it in he world :)
Thanks for remember all of us the history and the best times in the WRC! We need a Prodrive and Subaru Come Back in the 2027 new rules!! 🔝🙌. The big boss and your right hand engine man Thanks for created the Iconic and legends Blue Rally Cars.. Forever Subaru (555 🏁💙
25:55 Interesting to hear DR's remarks about the internet. My days as a motorsport journalist in Kenya predated Prodrive's Safari efforts by a couple of years. But my boyhood hero and later friend Shekhar Mehta, by then FIA President for the WRC, introduced us at the time of the 2001 Monte.
A long story short, a team of Canadian/Swiss boffins worked on a Lotus Notes-based case management rendition to provide _real-time_ stage and cumulative event data via at a minimum, but also possibilities of small dirigible-mounted [nowadays drones] live feed cameras.
But the promised follow-up ended up as an absolute stonewalling exercise. DR hadn't anything to do with that as far as I know; I spoke to an unpleasant oik in the ointment.
I suggest we could've provided excellent viewing/data services for rallying fans two decades ago.
Great! Thanks DirtFish peeps. Mr Richards was visionary at the time. But FIA geezers.. sad. To internet and UA-cam like platforms. The only way now.
SUBARU🇯🇵🗾✨🇬🇧
Rally's great Councilman...David Richards
The subaru techy training centre great bridge were I worked is a pile of bricks now rem cooking for the 3 Japanese heads of subaru Daihatsu isuzu they all bowed in the boardroom after the meal it was emotional nice being respected for a change
Ari Pieti Uolevi Vatanen🇫🇮
David Pender Richards🇬🇧
💙
Why haven't we got the wrc in Britain it's a disgrace all those forests and great roads being stuck in the snow on rac rally in Wales and Scotland and lake district sleeping in car with cb radios poor kids today never going see group b rest in peace colin jonny and gavin
Money!! There aren't any sponsors/backers remotely interested; the sport has fallen so far off the radar, there's no value in it. And a lot of it is self-inflicted.....
@Andy_ATB maybe Elon the colon might invest .... rally electric be as boring as the formula e we can all play Scalextric or rc cars racing hot wheels on my sons drag strip more exciting
40 Years of Prodrive? this is more like "the years of the scottish car wrecker in Prodrive" instead.
That my dear chap could quite comfortably have been many hrs long. 🙂
I really dont think there should be a space for EVs in motorsport. Sure if you want to develop battery technology or whatever, go to formula e.
But other motorsport series, are supossed to be exciting, cars that compete in motorsports are PERFORMANCE machines and said machines should also be EXCITING, thats why perfomance EVs are not selling well, well no EV is but specially performance ones. People, rightlly, find then boring as hell.
Just imagine how boring WRC would be if you didnt have screaming engines through the forests.
I made a poll this year, on the WRCs official subreddit, asking people if theyd still watch the WRC if it went eletric, about 50% said they wouldnt, Im one of them.
Could of had a subaru wrx as company car but unfortunately the ex staff Sargeant who was above me thought thought he was special so didn't end well ...no chef no dinner 😂 no subaru in Lanark we wernt taught too put with idiots colin didn't either 😂
Could've
@dealt I drove gtrs for free instead including nismo s and some of the first 370z nismos in the country so it all worked out like a box of chocs
Too much talk! Get back in WRC!
Please God no EV 😢 there are plenty of high performance synthetic fuels etc that give that proper engine note . Otago Rally for me is what all rallying should be based on proper decent stages categories for Allcomers etc where privateers can go head to head with the big boys . Rallying sadly like everything else is on its knees IMO i mean take The Snowman Rally all the big names have driven it over the years but 2025 there is no Snowman Rally because of access to forests it’s sad . Otago Rally for me is the blueprint for rallying ok there’s no snow or ice but you’re properly exhausted after the rally because not only is it a test of car but it’s a test of drivers endurance also . Great chat from 2 of rallyings legends if anyone can make something decent change or happen it’s DR 🤝👍
Prodrive is such an amazing success. And Dave has always been talking sense