Subaru obliterates Isle of Man lap record with stock WRX STI

***Weasel 555*** · 06-09-2011 05:37 PM

We talk about the Nürburgring a lot, but perhaps it's time we start devoting more ink to the Isle of Man. Located between Great Britain and Ireland, the tiny bit of green plays host to one of the most impressive displays of speed on the planet.

The annual Isle of Man TT plays out on a 37.8-mile course made up of public roads, which are closed down during race days. It's run by motorcyclists, and crazy sonsof*****es skilled pilots can complete the loop in under 18 minutes. Curious how long it would take an automobile to run the same course? Back in 1990, driver Tony Pond was curious as well, and he pushed a Rover 827 Vitesse around the island in 21 minutes, becoming the first driver to average 100 miles per hour in a car on the course.

Subaru decided to have a go at that record, and sent a WRX STI sedan and driver Mark Higgins to the Isle of Man. The car is a stock STI, with the exception of a roll-cage, race harness, fire extinguisher and adjusted springs and dampers to handle the various bumps found on the public roadway. How'd Higgins do? He smashed Pond's record by two minutes, with a time of 19:56.7 and an average speed of 113 miles per hour. Higgins stated, "Setting the record was both the most exhilarating and the most frightening thing I have ever done." We believe you, and we salute you Mr. Higgins, on a rather impressive bit of driving.

Read More/Subaru Press Release: autoblog.com/2011/06/09/subaru-obliterates-isle-of-man-lap-record

subaru.co.uk/news/isle-of-man-lap-record

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**rage-wrx** · 06-09-2011 05:45 PM

" The peak speed achieved during the lap was 162mph."

And they nearly crashed!!!Why does he have a co-pilot who is not reading notes,did they have him onboard for extra ballast?

Maybe this will encourage Subaru to get back into WRC ?

***Weasel 555*** · 06-09-2011 06:23 PM

Originally Posted by rage-wrx

" The peak speed achieved during the lap was 162mph."

Why does he have a co-pilot who is not reading notes,did they have him onboard for extra ballast?
...
Maybe this will encourage Subaru to get back into WRC ?

1. A:Yes probably for balance /weight distribution.

2. A: I hope you mean the MFR Team as subaru is clearly running PWRC and has never stopped its support / enthusiasm. click: wrc.com/pwrc/news/=14090

hope that helps

**rage-wrx** · 06-09-2011 06:31 PM

I did mean the manufacturer team.Would have been nice to see them back in action.

***Weasel 555*** · 06-09-2011 06:38 PM

Originally Posted by rage-wrx

I did mean the manufacturer team.Would have been nice to see them back in action.

+1 definitely agree

**legacy_gt** · 06-10-2011 08:03 AM

while impressive, i'd like to see other cars do this. 22 year record?

**rage-wrx** · 06-11-2011 07:04 AM

**mangostick** · 06-11-2011 07:17 AM

I'll be honest.. after seeing how a professional driver was workin that wheel to keep the car inline after that bump/loss of traction.. I'd have wrecked it for sure if I was driving. .. not that I'd even have the balls to carry that much speed through there either. lol There's a reason why pro's are pro's..

***TheJ*** · 06-11-2011 08:16 AM

Originally Posted by mangostick

I'll be honest.. after seeing how a professional driver was workin that wheel to keep the car inline after that bump/loss of traction.. I'd have wrecked it for sure if I was driving. .. not that I'd even have the balls to carry that much speed through there either. lol There's a reason why pro's are pro's..

+1