Subaru Smashes Isle of Man Lap Record With Standard WRX STI

[Matra et Alpine]

From http://subaru.co.uk/news/subaru-smas...andard-wrx-sti

Subaru Smashes Isle of Man Lap Record With Standard WRX STI

Thursday 9th June 2011


The long-standing road-car lap record for the Isle of Man TT circuit has been comprehensively smashed in a production-spec Subaru WRX STI saloon. In his very first run around the challenging 37.8-mile course, former British Rally Champion Mark Higgins posted a blistering lap time of 19 minutes and 56.7 seconds, translating to an average speed of 113mph. The peak speed achieved during the lap was 162mph.
Higgins’ time is more than two minutes faster than the previous record, set by the late Tony Pond 21 years ago to the day (on 6 June 1990), at the wheel of an Rover 827 Vitesse. Pond was the first to break the average 100mph 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 WRX STI used for the record breaking run was a standard Subaru production car, equipped with a 300PS Horizontally-Opposed Boxer engine, unmodified brake callipers and with road-legal Pirelli P Zero Trofeo tyres. Springs and dampers were adjusted to minimise any potential damage when the car encountering the various bumps and jumps at high speed along the course.
In recognition of the speeds involved, and the fact that there are little or no crash barriers around most of the TT road circuit, the WRX STI was fitted with some essential safety enhancements. These included an MSA-specification T45 integrated roll cage, TRS race harnesses and a Lifeline extinguisher system. To help forewarn spectators of the presence of the oncoming car, the Subaru team also fitted the WRX STI with a high-decibel exhaust.
“Setting the record was both the most exhilarating and the most frightening thing I have ever done,” explains Higgins, whose career as a driver in the British and World Rally Championships hasn’t exactly been short of excitement. “The rules allow for a flying start, so I crossed the line at 125mph. I then went down through the Bray Hill junction – normally taken at around 20mph – at over 150mph. Once that tricky section was out of the way I settled into the lap and quickly got used to the balance and sheer pace of the car.
“In the end the lap was simply fantastic, and the WRX STI behaved impeccably,” explains Higgins. “That we managed to set such an impressive time at our first attempt is a great tribute to the Subaru, especially given that so few modifications have been made. The engine pulled incredibly strongly throughout and the cornering capability proved crucial on such a twisty, unforgiving course.”
The TT crowds got fully behind the record attempt, reports Higgins. “The atmosphere out on the circuit was incredible, especially once the spectators heard over the PA system that we were in the process of setting a new record. I could hear the cheers in the car and it really added to the experience.”
The WRX STI is currently available from all Subaru dealers with free satellite navigation and a free power upgrade, taking the power output to a blistering 320PS – more than enough, no doubt, to break the Isle of Man record yet again.
The outright lap record on the TT course was set in 2009 by John McGuinness on a Honda CBR1000RR ‘Fireblade’ motorcycle. McGuinness posted a time of 17 minutes and 12.3 seconds, equivalent to an average speed of 131mph.



DAMN, wish I'd been there this year

[RacingManiac]

Isle of Man, the new Ring for the car OEMs?

Not to down play how fast the bikes are, but I'd imagine a face road car can get close to the bike time?

[f6fhellcat13]

Ohio plates?

[250gto boy]

Isle of Man, the new Ring for the car OEMs?

Not to down play how fast the bikes are, but I'd imagine a face road car can get close to the bike time?

Maybe it is the new Ring and maybe it isn't, I'm sure it's just as challenging and that it takes mad skills to not fly into the ocean.

[thebrochureman]

Wow, you have to give the Subaru WRX STI saloon and the driver some respect for smashing the record.

[250gto boy]

Wow, you have to give the Subaru WRX STI saloon and the driver some respect for smashing the record.

Definitely giving him respect because I would expect something like a 911 or GT-R to break the record but I didn't know that a WRX STI could even think about hitting 163.

[Matra et Alpine]

First it's 2 minutes 45 seconds SLOWER than the bikes.

Second, it can't be a replacement for te 'Ring as it is a USED public road.
WHilst closed for thE TT the island pretty much comes to a standstill.

Finally, the "record" has lived on longer than a crappy Rover deserved.
Cars dont get to run the TT circuit and Subaru must have twisted a lot of arms to get permission

[TVR IS KING]

Finally, the "record" has lived on longer than a crappy Rover deserved.

That's just it. It's a record that only stood because no one challenged it. The Rover didn't stand a chance against a modern, powerful, AWD car.

[250gto boy]

That's just it. It's a record that only stood because no one challenged it. The Rover didn't stand a chance against a modern, powerful, AWD car.

But the real question is does the record stand up to your amazing 1990 300ZX.

[Matra et Alpine]

That's just it. It's a record that only stood because no one challenged it. The Rover didn't stand a chance against a modern, powerful, AWD car.

to be honest, the Rover never really "stood a chance" against most of the cars available at the time.
It was anexcellent piece of marketing by Rover using Tony Pond's influence to get permissions

[csl177]

Surely Suburu will use it the same way? BTW, that vid you posted showed a good reason cars DON'T run the TT course.
A crash would be catastrophic in some places... nobody wants a car tumbling through their sitting room.

[Matra et Alpine]

Yeha the "safety barriers" barely work for a light bike and rider
( For those who've not looked closely yet then you will spot ONE straw bale tied around lamp posts, sigposts and the edge of garden walls !!! )

SOME parts of the TT have been used in the past (and still do) in the Manx International Rally, so some of those sitting rooms have been at risk

[Badsight]

a roll cage can add over 50 kg in weight

the subie is a fantastic handeling car - this has opened up a can of worms as we have no other modern sports car time to compare it

the bike times cant be compared either - far too much practice for them compared to almost zero practice for the subie driver

at the ring bikes get thrashed by cars - as they will do any time that downforce can give a benefit

bikes ought to thrash cars on most non-straight roads tho - argue all you want , most bike riders will probablly agree with you & disagree with me

when ive asked good bike riders if they can push a car harder than a bike - they have mainly agreed. im the opposite

[Matra et Alpine]

As a bike rider and car racer and TT rider and marshal here's my tuppence ...

bikes will beat cars SOMETIMES and on twisty roads most of the time.
BUt when high speed or braking is needed then the car gets most of it back.

The can they push a car question the real asnwer is most of the time on a decent road.
You cant' get past the low weight and faster acceleration of a bike.

Bring PRICE in to the equation and it's a real no-brainer
BUT, take each to it's capable limits and the car will win most of the time.

re practice, for sure for the last 30 seconds of differnence and that's clear to see when looking at comparative bike times in competition. BUT, it's a road 99.99% of the year and so driers/riders cant rely on it being identical and it's not smooth so odd bumps just 1" away from the line last taken makes big differences. it's a race riders have to ride with instinct and why all the "great" circuit riders wont even come NEAR the TT circuit

For a car, it's not too difficult to know with only a handful of corners where it's not obvious what is there and how to take it. Mark is a born Manxman and has driven these roads since he was a kid ... and while MOST Of it had the no-speed-limit now restricted to just the mountain section

NOT to take away from the "event", but it's not a one-off driver getting a one-off chance It's planned for success and if you think his experience down Bray Hill looked "bad" then check out what happens in a bike when you get that wobble there ....

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiKmPFo6xNA"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiKmPFo6xNA[/ame]

[Matra et Alpine]

or when it's wet

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXogcDsir-s"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXogcDsir-s[/ame]