► New car being built for TT course record attempt
► Subaru USA working with Prodrive and STI
► No tech details yet, but expect chassis tweaks
Subaru USA is looking to smash the lap record on four wheels around the Isle of Man TT course – and it’s enlisted rally legends Prodrive and Subaru Technica International to help it do just that.
The brands will combine their extensive motorsports knowledge to produce a purpose-built WRX STI, designed specifically for getting around the high-speed circuit in a short a time as possible.
The TT course is famous for its week-long bike races each year but Subaru, who already hold the record for the highest average speed for a car around the circuit, want to close the gap between driver and two-wheeled daredevil.
Subaru and Prodrive, that’s a real blast from the past!
You aren’t wrong. Back when Subaru was a household name in rallying, Prodrive worked with it and Subaru Technica Internationa to deliver the engineering and finished product that led to three World Rally Championship Manufacturer titles and three World Rally Championship driver titles. So this is hardly a haphazard attempt for the record.
Rally driver Mark Higgins will be back behind the wheel of the modified WRX STI for yet another attempt at beating the record. You may remember back in 2014 when he lapped the TT course at an average lap speed of 117.51mph in a virtually stock WRX STI, smashing the previous 115.36mph record (watch the video below).
Modifications then included suspension tweaks to deal with the demands of the course, sticky Dunlop Direzza tyres, and a roll cage and a fire extinguisher – just in case.
Subaru of America’s national manager of product communications, Dominick Infante, said: ‘This is one of the most amazing road courses in the world and the Isle of Man TT is one of the most exciting races of the year. We have previously run the TT Course in near-stock Subaru WRX STIs, but this year we set out to design the ultimate WRX STI for this circuit.’
Until the attempt’s carried out, sit back and enjoy Mark Higgin’s previous record lap with complimentary commentary from the man himself…