High-speed ride with Subaru Rally Team USA's David Higgins at STPR 2012
Ride inside the cockpit and on the front bumper with David Higgins and Craig Drew in their Subaru Rally Team USA STI as they race flat out through the forest stages of Pennsylvania's STPR Rally. Watch more videos at www.subaru.com/rally
Subaru driver David Higgins completed the biggest comeback of his career to finish second overall on the sinuous and technical dirt roads of Pennsylvania's 2012 Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally (STPR), round four of six in the 2012 Rally America National Championship. Higgins dropped over three minutes to the leaders after a mechanical problem struck his Subaru on the event's first stage dropping him down to 13th Overall. With his BFGoodrich-tires shod Subaru WRX STI fully repaired for STPR's second and much longer day of rallying, Higgins pushed hard and climbed the leaderboard, finding himself on the podium at the finish. The strong result retains Higgins' substantial lead in the 2012 Rally America Championship standings and puts him within a handful of points of securing his second straight Rally America crown with two events still remaining.
Subaru Isle of Man TT Record Attempt
Subaru of America, Inc. has released a new YouTube video of the 2011 Subaru WRX STI setting an all-time course record for the historic Isle of Man TT Mountain Course. The 5 minute 25 second video highlights in graphic detail the speed and drama surrounding rally driver Mark Higgins' lap that averaged 115.356 MPH. After the run, Higgins talks through the "moment" at Brey Hill when he momentarily loses, and then regains, control of the WRX STI at more than 150 MPH.
Driving a US specification 2011 Subaru WRX STI, Higgins achieved speeds of 162 MPH and a lapped time of 19 minutes 37 seconds over the 37-mile track, navigating more than 200 corners.
"This is one of the most daunting tracks I have ever driven, and the most terrifying," said Higgins, a Manx native. "We were only able to get two practice runs and on our second practice I had the biggest "moment" of my career. We had a passenger on the run and so coming into Bray Hill at more than 150 MPH, the extra weight compressed the suspension more than on previous runs and shifted the Subaru to the left and then right as I corrected--it was a real tank slapper. The whole thing went by so quickly that we never slowed below 110 MPH, and then we were back on the power. It was amazing and the helicopter shots really show just how hairy it really was."
The WRX STI was a production US spec car running a standard 305 HP turbocharged boxer engine. Some safety modifications were made. The Subaru was equipped with a Lifeline fire suppression system, Hockley Motorsports roll cage, motordrive competition seats, Mintex brake pads (but stock calipers and rotors), and a louder open Exhaust to warn spectators of the on-coming car. The speed limiter was turned off to allow a higher maximum speed; off-the shelf Tien springs and dampers were added to accommodate the numerous high-speed jumps on the circuit, sending the WRX STI almost four feet off the ground. The car ran on street legal Pirelli P Zero Trofeo tires.
High Speed Testing at 100 Acre Wood Rally 2012
Subaru Rally Team USA driver and defending Rally America National Champion David Higgins is full of confidence ahead of this weekend's Rally in the 100 Acre Wood, round two of the 2012 Rally America National Championship, after completing two days of gravel testing this week at the wheel of his #75 Subaru WRX STI. Higgins, from the Isle of Man, is ready to battle nearly 70 top rally teams on over 100 miles of fast yet technical gravel roads that twist through central Missouri's majestic Ozark foothills.
"The feeling with our Subaru is very good," explained Higgins. "During testing this week we made some great progress and found some speed on the faster sections, which will be crucial at this event. Our goal is always to win, but I'm mindful that we are looking at the big picture and need to secure championship points first and foremost."
The competition will be fierce at the 100 Acre Wood Rally with entries from multi-time Polish Rally Champion Krzysztof Holowczyc, former Subaru Rally Team USA driver Ken Block who is a five-time winner of the event, as well as Higgins' perennial challenger Antoine L'Estage, the 2011 Canadian Rally Champion.
Subaru PUMA RallyCross Team Battles in GRC Debut at Charlotte
Watch more rallycross videos, photo galleries, and onboard footage at http://www.subaru.com/rally
In this video, go behind-the-scenes with Dave Mirra, Bucky Lasek, and Sverre Isachsen of the Subaru PUMA Rallycross Team U.S.A. as they battle in Global Rallycross Round 1 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, May 26, 2012.
----------------------------------------
The 2012 Global RallyCross Championship (GRC) kicked off within the immense confines of the Charlotte Motor Speedway and the Subaru PUMA Rallycross Team was there to do battle amongst a total of 17 participating Rallycross teams. Seasoned team drivers Dave Mirra and Sverre Isachsen, as well as Rallycross rookie Bucky Lasek piloted their race-prepared Subaru WRX STIs against stiff competition on a unique road course incorporating parts of the oval at Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina. The Rallycross ran immediately following the NASCAR Nationwide race in front of thousands of likely new fans in attendance.
"I had many unknowns here with a new team, a new car, and a new series," explained Sverre Isachsen, the reigning European Rallycross Champion who recently stepped away from defending his crown in Europe to join the Subaru PUMA RallyCross Team and compete in the GRC. "Although I was unable to make it to the Final due to a minor mechanical problem I have gained a really, really good feeling about my Subaru during this first event with it. We have only just started the development of our car yet I had the pace to challenge our rivals here in Charlotte, who have been developing their cars for Rallycross for years. They are at their limit yet we are just scratching the surface, so the potential I see is very good. It was a good weekend for me to learn this and get some time in the car, so I'm very confident now. We will fight for victory at the next round, I am sure of it." Isachsen finshed in second place in his first heat but was slowed by a mechanical issue while leading the Last Chance Qualifier race, which would have sent Isachsen on to the Final.
The second new face driving a Subaru this year is skateboarding legend Bucky Lasek. Although Lasek is a Rallycross rookie he is no stranger to auto racing and has competed in a variety of circuit racing events over the past ten years. Lasek is driving a lower specification Subaru STI RallyCross car for the initial few rounds of his burgeoning Rallycross career as the Subaru PUMA RallyCross Team focus on Lasek's development and training program. But Lasek is a quick study and put in an impressive drive in his debut event finish in third place in the Last Chance Qualifier race, just over one second behind second place and what would have been a spot in the Final. "I've driven many cars but this Subaru STI Rallycross car is just wild," said Lasek. "The best way to explain what my first Rallycross event was like is comparing it to being dropped into a pool filled with piranhas, except I enjoyed it immensely! I'm really happy with my performance as I stayed out of trouble, stayed smooth and learned so much, so it was a great first step for me and an amazing experience."
Dave Mirra advanced to the Final with a second place finish heat race and was fighting among the lead pack of cars when young Finnish Rallycross driver Toomas Heikkenen, who collided heavily with Mirra, abruptly ended his race. Heikennen was subsequently black-flagged and disqualified from the Final for the aggressive move. Mirra was ultimately classified as an eighth place overall finish. "It was wild out there and things just didn't go my way in the Final," explained Mirra. "I was pretty upset at the time when I was knocked out, but ultimately I realized we learned a lot this weekend and it was great to get back in my Subaru."
Subaru Concord Pond Run featuring Ken Block
Watch video footage of Subaru Rally Team USA driver Ken Block and co-driver Alex Gelsomino setting the record stage time for Concord Pond at the 2009 New England Forest Rally in their Vermont SportsCar prepared Impreza WRX STI rally car for the Rally America National Championship series.
Rally Subaru Crashing into Shed
Vantage Point Video Rally DVD's available at http://myworld.ebay.ie/spacekadett83
Rally Subaru Crashing into Shed from Vantage Point Videos Crashes Spins and Overshoots Volume 1 free to view on our channel.
Subaru Impreza WRC - Polish driver got crazy
One of the best polish rally drivers of all times...No one could drive quicker than that :)
Also take a look at this!!!
https://vimeo.com/37428651
http://vimeo.com/31578045
Subaru Rally Team USA's David Higgins Breaks Mt. Washington Record on BFGoodrich Tires
On Sunday, June 26, 2011, Subaru Rally Team USA driver David Higgins needed only six minutes and 11.54 seconds to finish the famed Mt. Washington Hillclimb — nearly 30 seconds faster than Frank Sprongl's previous record from 1998. Higgins also beat the unofficial record of 6:20.47 set by Travis Pastrana last year. Higgins did it sans co-driver in his Vermont SportsCar-prepped Subaru WRX STi rally car equipped with BFGoodrich RC01 Rally tires.
SRT USA #75 dominates Oregon Trail Rally for 2nd year in a row
The storyline and the results of the 2012 Oregon Trail Rally mimicked the 2011 edition of the event with Subaru Rally Team USA's David Higgins again leading from the start and pulling away for victory. The win, his fourth Oregon Trail Rally career victory, vaults Higgins even farther out of reach of his rivals in the points standings as he seeks to defend his 2011 Rally America Championship title. Higgins and his co-driver Craig Drew kept their mettle while at the wheel of their BFGoodrich Tires-shod 2012 Subaru WRX STI after their closest challenger dropped out of the event and Higgins ran nearly unchallenged for a large portion of the event.
Higgins' dominating win at Oregon had its only hiccup early on the second day as he slid off a slippery, rain soaked, corner at high speed. The #75 Subaru WRX STI literally bounced back on the road but the encounter with the scenery inflicted moderate damage to the suspension along with mild body damage. Higgins was able to drive back to the subsequent scheduled service and a quick repair from his service crew put his STI back on the charge.
"This is a big win for us and gives us a really firm grip on the championship," explained Higgins. "We took maximum points and Antoine [L'Estage], our closest rival, did not finish, so it couldn't have gone any better really. Our Subaru was just perfect, it's so well suited for these conditions and really proved this weekend to be equally as tough too."
