Subaru's 2015 WRX STI sets Isle of Man TT lap record

Jun 4, 2014, 12:46pm ET

Mostly stock WRX STI finishes 37-mile course in 19.26 at 116.47 mph.

Subaru's redesigned 2015 WRX STI has succeeded in its attempt to set a new lap record for the Isle of Man TT road course.

Piloted by Mark Higgins, the sedan completed the 37-mile route in 19 minutes and 26 seconds, at an average speed of 116.47 mph. Higgins beat his own record, set in the previous-generation 2010 WRX STI at an average speed of 115.36 mph.

"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," Higgins said. "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 record-breaking car was mostly stock, aside from an FIA-spec cage, racing seat, harness, fire suppression system and modified springs and dampers that were better suited to the course conditions and high speeds of the course. It was also outfitted with Dunlop Direzza tires and a louder straight exhaust for crowd safety.

The attempt was managed and sponsored by Subaru, serving to validate the company's claims that the latest WRX STI is an even better sports car than its predecessor.

"There is nothing like the TT course in all of racing, it's just an amazing circuit," Higgins added. "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 team is considering making another run at the end of the week to top the record.