Long before modern racing simulators featured laser-scanned tracks and hyper-realistic tire degradation algorithms, car enthusiasts fought their wars on 32-bit consoles and chunky late-90s PCs. If you loaded up Codemasters’ seminal 1998 masterpiece Colin McRae Rally, you were immediately thrown into the absolute peak of the most aggressive, high-stakes rivalry in automotive history: Subaru vs. Mitsubishi.
While the real-world World Rally Championship was an absolute dogfight between Tommi Mäkinen and Colin McRae, the digital version allowed teenagers and gearheads worldwide to decide who ruled the mud. It wasn't just about picking a car; it was about choosing a philosophy of speed.
1. The Heavy Hitters: 4G63 vs. EJ20 in Low Resolution
In the game's flagship A8/WRC class, two machines dominated the selection screen.
On one side sat the 1997 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV. In the game, the Evo IV was a precision instrument. Its digital physics reflected the real-world magic of Mitsubishi’s active differentials. It felt heavy, planted, and incredibly stable when sliding through the muddy, narrow tracks of the RAC Rally or the treacherous, snow-filled banks of Sweden. Under the hood, the legendary 4G63T 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four offered punchy torque delivery that pulled you out of tight hairpins with brutal efficiency.
On the other side was the iconic Sonic Blue 1997 Subaru Impreza WRC. Because it was Colin McRae’s official ride, this was the poster car for a generation. Driven by the distinctive, off-beat rhythmic rumble of the EJ20 turbocharged Boxer engine, the Impreza in the game felt alive, agile, and delightfully tail-happy. It required a more aggressive driving style—throwing the car sideways early into a corner, relying on the boxer’s low center of gravity and flat torque curve to power through the gravel.
2. The Pixels vs. The Reality
What made Colin McRae Rally (1998) so revolutionary was how well it captured the mechanical essence of these machines despite the technical limitations of the original PlayStation and Windows 95/98 PCs.
The developers managed to translate the distinct torque curves of both engines into the gameplay loop. If you clipped a rock in Greece with the Evo IV, the car felt robust enough to absorb the impact and maintain its line, mimicking the tough, rallied-hardened chassis Mitsubishi built. Meanwhile, the Subaru felt like a scalpel; it was lighter on its feet, allowing for rapid direction changes during tight chicanes, but it punished drivers who couldn't manage weight transfer properly.
Both cars were locked into the famous JDM "Gentlemen’s Agreement," officially claiming 276 horsepower, but anyone who drove them—whether on real stages or virtual ones—knew that with anti-lag systems firing like shotguns, they were pushing well north of 300 HP.
3. The Ultimate Reward: Unlocking the Holy Grail (22B-STi)
For those who dedicated countless hours to mastering the game's brutal difficulty curve and conquered the championship on Expert mode, Codemasters hid the ultimate love letter to JDM culture: the 1998 Subaru Impreza 22B-STi.
In an era before the internet instantly spoiled every video game secret, unlocking the 22B was a mythical experience. Boasting a wider track, a larger 2.2-liter engine, and blistered fenders straight off the WRC car, the digital 22B was an absolute cheat code on wheels. It combined the agile handling of the standard WRC car with a massive mid-range power delivery that made the asphalt stages of Corsica feel like a walk in the park. If you want to experience this legendary 90s duel and pilot the mythical 22B-STi with stunning modern graphics and ultra-realistic physics today, you can find the entire historic roster beautifully recreated in EA Sports WRC for PS5/Xbox.
💬 Join the Discussion
The original Colin McRae Rally didn't just entertain us; it shaped our automotive taste. It cemented the blue-and-gold Subaru and the red-and-white Mitsubishi livery into the permanent hall of fame of car culture.
Now it's your turn: When you loaded up the game in 1998, which side of the war were you on? Were you aiming for precision corners with Tommi’s Evo IV, or going completely sideways, flat-out with Colin’s Impreza WRC? Let us know your favorite memories in the comments below!
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