Subaru made two attempts to set the fastest lap record of the Nurburgring, but the first attempt was hindered by heavy downpour. During the second attempt, made recently, the specially prepared Subaru WRX STI Type RA NBR Special zipped around the notorious German racetrack, setting a time record of 6:57.5. The expertise gained from making this lap record of the Prodrive spec car will help to better tune the road-going version of the Subaru’s performance sedan.
The name Subaru WRX STI Type RA NBR Special maybe a mouthful, but fortunately this is not a production vehicle though. The car was specially designed to demonstrate the capabilities of Subaru sedan and all-wheel drive system. It is based on the 2017 WRX STI featuring a 2.0-litre turbocharged Boxer engine punching out 600 horsepower. The raw power is channelled through Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system.
The Prodrive spec adds a full roll cage welded directly onto the WRX STI unibody, turbo running a 25psi of boost, and the car sits on slick racing tyres. The gearbox is WRC spec with automatic clutch bettering the shift times by 20-25milliseconds. The active rear wing uses similar technology as found in Formula 1 cars. With its combined electric and hydraulic operation, the wing can deploy for full downforce/drag under braking or in fast turns and then open for less downforce/drag on long straights. Prodrive calculated the top speed of 288kmph at 8,500 rpm in the top gear at the ’Ring.
The road going version of the Prodrive spec Subaru is called the WRX STI Type RA (where RA stands for Record Attempt). It will be limited to just 500 examples when it goes on sale later this year. It will be blowing out a little more than 300 horsepower from the 2.5-litre Boxer engine tuned by STI. The six-speed transmission will feature a revised 3rd gear ratio with a short throw shifter. Other specification includes Brembo brakes, carbon-fibre body elements, BBS forged wheels and Yokohama rubber with Bilstein dampers with inverted front struts and rear double wishbone suspension and better engine tuning.
