In the summer of 2014, Subaru teamed up with Mark Higgins and attempted to break the lap record for a car around the 39-mile Isle Of Man Tourist Trophy course. They were successful, sending a mostly stock 2015 WRX STI around the island in 19 minutes and 15 seconds, but now another company is attempting to break the record.
Oxfordshire-based racing outfit Prodrive, famous for its long-lasting and successful rallying endeavors, has announced they will attempt to break the Isle Of Man TT record for a car in an race-prepped Subaru WRX STI this June. Higgins will again be at the wheel, however this time around he’s poised to set a much faster lap time, with the car being stripped out, stiffened and equipped with racing slicks and other high performance components.
The stock Subaru WRX STI is powered by Subaru’s turbocharged flat-four boxer engine producing 310 horsepower and 394 Nm. The engine is mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or CVT automatic, which send power to all four wheels via Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel drive system. Manual equipped models will accelerate from 0-60 mph in about five seconds, while CVT cars will do the dance in just under six seconds. Prodrive has yet to provide detailed specifications on its race-prepped version.
The Isle Man TT is a time-trial motorcycle race that has been run on the Isle of Man annually since 1907. Six different classes race in the event, which is typically held in May or June, with the fastest being the Superbike TT category. The current lap record of 17:03.567 was set in 2015 by John McGuiness on a Honda CBR 1000RR.
