A Subaru WRX STI Just Broke The Isle Of Man TT Record For Cars

The Isle of Man TT - which is on this week - is all about motorbikes going ridiculously fast on a twisty closed public road, but there are occasional times when a car gets a look-in. One of these moments occurred today, when rally driver Mark Higgins belted around the famous Snaefell Mountain Course behind the wheel of the latest Subaru WRX STI in 19 minutes and 26 seconds, clocking an incredible average speed of 116.47mph.

That’s some way off the fastest bike lap (17 minutes 6.682sec at 132mph set only a few days ago by New Zealander Bruce Anstey) but still hugely impressive. Higgins reckons a quicker lap could have been possible, too. We’ll be keeping a close eye on any future attempts.

The lap betters Higgins’ own record of 115.36mph, which he set in 2011 aboard the previous generation WRX STI. His 2011 attempt smashed the previous record of 102mph, which was set way back in 1992 by the late rally driver Tony Pond in a Rover SD1.

The new record was set using a US-spec WRX STI, with the addition of a roll cage, updated suspension, beefier brake pads, a race seat and a straight-through exhaust to give a little extra drama for the spectators.

Footage of the whole lap is yet to be released, but this passing shot filmed by a spectator gives you an idea of how fast you have to be whipping to set records in this place.

More footage of this record-breaking run has emerged, which can also be seen below.