British rally champion, Mark Higgins has set a new four-wheeled Isle of Man lap record (19min 26secs), driving a 2015 Subaru WRX STI around the TT circuit.
HIGGIN’S DROVE A STOCK-STANDARD 2015 WRX STI around the 37.8-mile (60.48km) TT Mountain course posting an average speed of 116mph (185km/h) and a top speed of more than 160mph (256km/h). The timed run was completed under closed road conditions as part of the TT schedule with Higgins beating his previous record (set in 2011) of 19min 56.7secs. That record was set also with a WRX STI and, at the time, beat a record that had stood for 21 years.
Driving a US specification car, the only modifications to the car involved the springs and dampers, which were adjusted to minimise any potential damage when the car encountered the course’s many bumps and jumps at high speed. The WRX STI was also equipped with essential safety enhancements, including a roll-cage, race harness and fire suppression system and was fitted with Dunlop Derezza tyres.
Mark said of his run: “It was quite a lap we did today and I am really happy to have another record in the bank. The chassis of the 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.
“There is nothing like the TT course in all racing. Not just because of its length but the elevation changes, constant surface variations as you shift from town to country roads and the fact we run from 30mph (48km/h) and then up to 160mph-plus (256km/h-plus) for much of the race.”
The outright lap record on the TT course was set in 2013 by John McGuinness on a Honda CBR1000RR ‘Fireblade’, recording a time of 17 minutes 11.6 seconds, equivalent to an average speed of 131.7mph (210km/h).
