Subaru’s all new 2015 WRX STI has succeeded in its attempt to set a new lap record for the Isle of Man TT road course.
Driven by Mark Higgins, the sedan completed the 37-mile route in just 19 minutes and 26 seconds, at an average speed of 116.47 mph (~186 km/hr). Higgins beat his own record, set in the previous-gen 2010 WRX STI at an average speed of 115.36 mph.
When interviewed after the race Higgins said, “the chassis on this 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,” adding “I lost time on the second part of the track overshooting my braking point at Sign Post corner. I actually hand-braked the turn in the end, so I feel we can definitely do better.”
The 2015 WRX STI was mostly left stock, aside from a roll-cage, racing seat, harness, fire suppression system and modified springs and dampers that were judged to be a better fit for the mighty Isle of Man TT. The attempt was managed and sponsored by Subaru, validating the company’s claims that the latest WRX STI even with a few modifications albeit is still a better sports car than its predecessor.
“There is nothing like the TT course in all of racing, it’s just an amazing circuit” Higgins stated. “Not just because of its length, but the elevation changes, constant surface variations as you shift from town to country roads and the fact that we run roughly 30 mph and then up to 160 plus for much of the race.”
The Higgins team is considering making another go at the end of the week to attempt and beat the record again.
Source: LeftLane
