Subaru WRX STI breaks own Isle of Man lap record

subaru-isle-of-man

The Subaru WRX STI has once again broken the four-wheeled lap record around the famous Isle of Man TT circuit, with British rally champion Mark Higgins setting a new record of 19 minutes 26 seconds in a production version of the new STI.

Higgins’s lap around the challenging 60.8 km TT Mountain course saw him post an average speed of 187 km/h and a top speed of over 257 km/h.

The Manxman completed his timed run under closed road conditions as part of the TT schedule and beat his previous record, set in 2011, when he did 19 minutes 56.7 seconds. That was done at the wheel of the previous-generation WRX STI, breaking a record that had stood for 21 years.

As with the previous record-breaking car, the WRX STI used for Higgins’s run was a standard US-spec car, equipped with a 300 PS 2.5 litre turbo boxer engine. The only mods involved the springs and dampers, which were adjusted to minimise any potential damage from the course’s many high speed bumps and jumps.

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The WRX STI (Impreza name now dropped) was also equipped with essential safety enhancements, including a roll-cage, race harness and fire suppression system and was fitted with Dunlop Direzza tyres.

“It was quite a lap we did today and I am really happy to have another record in the bank. The chassis of the new car is so much better it really allowed me to pick up time in each sector in the more technical parts of the course,” Higgins said.

“There is nothing like the TT course in all racing. Not just because of its length but the elevation changes, constant surface variations as you shift from town to country roads and the fact we run from 48 km/h and then up to 257 km/h plus for much of the race,” he added.

The WRX and WRX STI, recently spotted in the JPJ car park, are expected to be available in Malaysia from July onwards. Get full details and live pics of the legend from its regional launch in Manila.

Subaru WRX and WRX STI in Malaysia


Subaru WRX


Subaru WRX STI

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • Veneno on Jun 09, 2014 at 9:48 am

    sponsored by minyak cap kaki tiga..??(first pic) hahaha.. btw, it’s bloody nice..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 1
    • torque on Jun 09, 2014 at 10:17 am

      Hahaha…nampak ajer! Btw, I personally diggin’ this new fascia than the current sedan version. Kinda look funny and out of proportion. This new one looks well balance.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
    • hakone on Jun 09, 2014 at 11:02 am

      Those three legs if you are wondering.
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_the_Isle_of_Man

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
    • hampeh on Jun 09, 2014 at 11:14 am

      The three legs is part of the isle of man flag if you are wondering

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
    • truman6 on Jun 10, 2014 at 1:27 am

      ya wor…u dun say it, many here dun even realise it…LOL

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Way to go.. Blue Samurai!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • the driver on Jun 09, 2014 at 10:25 am

    Shame the other manufacturers do not take the challenge. Record merely held because other makes do not view this record as important to their PR.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2
    • Shame on Subaru, that they doesn’t take the challenge on the Kampung Bumbung Lima – Kampung Ayam course.
      Unchallanged world champion on this track is a Saga from 1986.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 6
  • heybadigol on Jun 09, 2014 at 10:56 am

    Only the brave dare go quickly on the Isle of Man TT roads, especially on 2 wheels. That was an incredibly great lap by Mark Higgins. But as good as it was, it still cant match a bike. Fastest lap ever (car, bike, bicycle, etc) was set by John McBigBalls, I mean McGuinness (just kidding John) on a Honda Fireblade (CBR1000RR) at 17 mins 11:52 secs. Thats a full 2 minutes & 15 seconds faster than a car. John could stop the bike after crossing the line, make coffee, read the papers and still finish faster. Respect to all.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
    • Justified & Ancient on Jun 09, 2014 at 11:28 am

      Last week on the Isle of Man, I tried to compare a caterpillar to a grasshopper…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
  • mmaker on Jun 09, 2014 at 12:09 pm

    Subaru always get the prize at the island but their sales figure at UK is not impressive. British dont like japanese car perhaps?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • heybadigol on Jun 09, 2014 at 1:02 pm

      Subaru sells a lot of cars in Northern USA & Canada as they are in the snowy areas. The AWD system being very useful when it snows heavily. Maybe in the UK, it does not snow as much?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • same colour as my Proton Suprima S! Mine better RV and easy to maintain! Only HP lose to it.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 12
    • Motorhead (Member) on Jun 09, 2014 at 5:42 pm

      Happy for u.. Unfortunately. . Subaru not like Protong. . Making lost more than 800 millions. . Close to 1 billion. . Delisited in 2012 from Bursa. Un the news dy.. good luck with your Suprima S near future.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 2
  • Motorhead (Member) on Jun 09, 2014 at 2:06 pm

    Japs milo tin they said.. now they go quiet.. coffins la.. not safe la.. this la that la..

    Performance can drive this one.. don’t compare la with Vios or Passo..

    Japs ve cars in all segments. .& they work together. .

    Subaru come to daddy…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
  • Semi-Value (Member) on Jun 09, 2014 at 4:54 pm

    waiting for jdm version

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • yunus on Jun 09, 2014 at 10:10 pm

    Subaru is indeed a good car. But please be wary when buying it. I bought a brand new Forester from MOTOR IMAGE and the car was involved in an accident,nothing serious.
    Send the car to MOTOR IMAGE mid February till now it has not been totally repaired yet. The excuse, spares
    has to be ordered from Japan.It is already nearly 4 MONTHS and yet MOTOR IMAGE has not given me a date when the car can be fully repaired.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • heybadigol on Jun 10, 2014 at 2:38 pm

      Sorry to hear abt that. Did MI give a loaner car for use during the repair period?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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