A production-spec Subaru WRX STI sedan has broken the Isle of Man TT’s road-car lap record, which is more than two decades old. The WRX STI, driven by former British Rally Champion Mark Higgins, posted a lap time of 19 minutes and 56.7 seconds over the 60.8 km long course, translating to an average speed of 181 kph. The top speed achieved during the lap was 260 kph.
The lap time set by Higgins is more than two minutes quicker than the previous record, which was set by the late Tony Pond 21 years ago, on June 6, 1990, behind the wheel of an Rover 827 Vitesse. Pond was the first to break the average 160 kph barrier in a road car, and his lap record has stood ever since. The TT event organisers gave Higgins just one lap to conduct his record attempt in the car, and there was no opportunity to carry out high speed practice runs.
The record-breaking WRX STI was a standard Subaru production car with a 300 PS engine, unmodified brake callipers and road-legal Pirelli P Zero Trofeo tyres, with the springs and dampers adjusted to tackle the various bumps and jumps at high speed along the course.
With little or no crash barriers around most of the TT road circuit, the WRX STI was fitted with some essential safety enhancements, including an MSA-specification T45 integrated roll cage, TRS race harnesses and a Lifeline extinguisher system. To help forewarn spectators – who were out in force cheering the attempt on – of the presence of the oncoming car, the Subaru team also fitted the WRX STI with a high-decibel exhaust.
The outright lap record for the TT course was set in 2009 by John McGuinness on a Honda CBR1000RR ‘Fireblade’ motorcycle, with a time of 17 minutes and 12.3 seconds, equivalent to an average speed of 210 kph.
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Two minuter quicker than Rover 827 Vitesse, a 20 years back car & technology ? hmmm maybe I should look several factors perhaps ?
Focus, Evo or other cars cannot beat the old record huh?
it is not like they cant beat it…more of like they re not bothered about it + local authority fussiness…
I don’t understand why people have issues with just accepting what is there. At this point stock STI broke the record so just accept it. Tomorrow Evo/focus will try and we’ll talk then… Kapish
Scooby scooby doo….
average speed of 181km/h is jus plain crazy on basically twisty streets….salute !
Salute to True Racer !!
Isle of Man, a place for men (and women) with huge titanium alloy balls (dunno about women though)!! ;)
Imagine if you’re a resident of the Isle of Man and you’re used to bikers crashing through your front door…
…and then suddenly a Subaru WRX STI ploughs through your dining table.
probably the reason why the bike races are much more popular!!
Now that’s what i call real precision super fast driving.He must be a masterclass in total car control at stupidly high speeds.An ace effort.
I reckon it would not get any better than this.Salute with both hands to Mark Higgins!
Cheers.
They are really crazy people on the planet espacially the motorcycle racer !!!!
Is it that still a slower time than a bike?
Those TT riders are nuts….but i salute u all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jSYiU-JdRw
check out this video of the run… I think is the same STI… @ 0:55 how on earth he can recover the spin so fast!!! POWER lah!!
watched the clip, saw the look on the co-driver’s face, not even a blink when Mark Higgins almost lost it….now, that’s courage…
Hail Imprezza…. never fail to impress!
Still an ugly car…
I WAS a fan of Subaru Impreza
it need not be beautiful, as long as it does what it does best….
Satria S2000 kena ta-pau !!
Bau asap je la !!
fantastic driving ;) especially how he recovered from the max. speed “wobble”. the road & track journalist sitting with him was cool as a cucumber. mark higgins is currently in the APRC championship, running against the proton S2000 cars.. he was in Johor in April for Rally Malaysia.
Belum tentu boleh tapau Proton S2000. Did he finish in the Rally Johor?
In the Rally of Johor both Protons S2000 beat the two Subaru’s.
I have this car………………………………………in GT5 :)…..
Place back big air scoop on front bonnet, car will be looks great.
that’s why I still prefer WRC/rally over F1 race….
F1 look like somenone drive lost at somewhere..turn an turn at same place.