A couple months ago, we posted a story about a Ferrari-powered Subaru competing in the American Rally Association. It was an intriguing car, aimed at getting Americans interested in rally again.
Leave it to the Americans to find a loophole in the rulebook big enough to fit a Ferrari through it. Racer Sam Albert discovered that the American Rally Association has a rule allowing the Open 4WD class was allowed to use a naturally aspirated engine up to 4.5 liters with no restrictions. He then Frankenstein-ed a high-revving Ferrari V8 between the frame rails of his Subaru WRX STI.
It’s rally racing season stared with an instant DNF, but managed a class win at the Big White Winter Rally in December. Here’s an excellent video from Top Gear that gives an in depth look at this custom. And you won’t believe the sound!
WOW! ok I laughed when he said “obviously there’s no radiator.” That wasn’t exactly obvious to me; a notorious non-gearhead.
I also liked Heavy foot: Empty head
Fascinating to hear his co-driver. Surely the only place in the world where backseat driving as actually welcome.
I got to drive a convertible corvette this summer. First time I’d ever been in one, let alone driven it. I could really see how someone might really love driving a race car.
Also was this a manual transmission? I saw two feet moving and a gearshift. Are all race cars manual trannies?
The regular co-driver used to be the driver’s rival…now they are girlfriend + boyfriend. He’d better listen to her!
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Ah…the convertible Corvette. America’s dream car, regardless of year. You are a lucky person!
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The Ferrari-powered Subaru is a manual transmission (like 99% of race cars) but not like anything you or I would ever have driven. It has a sequential gearbox: push the lever forward to go down a gear, pull the lever back to go up a gear. Quick and efficient.
Cool!