May 16, 2014
Back in 2011 Mark Higgins made a record lap time of 19:56.7. This time he is confident of doing it yet again
Japanese automaker Subaru has a very good reputation in the rally cars production and the WRX STI is one of their bench marks. To prove its competency over its predecessors, Subaru has taken the plunge of setting the new record around the infamous
Isle of Man TT course. It is the same course where back in 2011, the British rally champion Mark Higgins drove a
Subaru WRX STI with a standard engine and set 19:56.7 as the record lap time.
The Isle of Man TT course is almost 37 miles long so when Higgins set that record in 2011 Impreza, he particularly managed to maintain an average speed of 115.36 mph. So
this time Subaru has given the champion a 2015 WRX STI and asked him to beat his own record, of course with an improved lap time.
When the previous Subaru made its record-breaking run, it had a standard engine so this time the 2015 Subaru WRX STI is also going to have a standard 2.5 litre boxer engine with 300 horsepower. The brake callipers are not modified in any way and the tyres are also road-legal but for safety concerns some modification are made to the car such as roll-cage, fire suppression system and race harness. Some tweaks to the springs and dampers are done so it can endure the hardness of rigid terrain.
Higgins will be given three attempts, as standard, to break the record under closed road conditions on May 31, June 2 and June 4. He is very excited and said: “Setting the record was totally exhilarating and one of the highlights of my career. As a Manxman, I love the TT Races and I have a huge amount of respect for the TT riders and what they do. It will be a real honour to attempt a new fastest car lap.” Let’s see if the new 2015 Subaru WRX STI can beat its own record at the TT course
