After 21 years to the day, the Isle of Man TT Race circuit lap record was broken on Monday 6 June 2011. It was previously set by rally driver Tony Pond in a Rover 827 Vitesse using slick tires. However, yesterday’s record-breaking Subaru WRX STI was on Pirelli’s P Zero Trofeo road-legal tires.
The Subaru, prepared by TEG Sport and driven by former British Rally Champion Mark Higgins, flew around the 37-mile demonstration lap of the Snaefell Mountain Course in 19 minutes and 56.7 seconds, translating to an average speed of 113mph with a peak speed of 162mph achieved during the lap.
On 6th June 1990, Pond teamed up with Austin Rover and, in a Rover 827 Vitesse, became the first-ever production car to average over 100mph around the Isle of Man TT Motor Bike Circuit. Until yesterday, this feat had never been equaled. But now Higgins’ time is more than two minutes faster than the previous record set by the late Tony Pond.
“The Subaru was driven on Pirelli P Zero Trofeo tires,” said Paul Hembery, director of Pirelli motorsport. “These are road-legal track tires designed for high performance driving. When Pond set the record in 1990, he drove on slicks, which would have enabled him to set a fast pace while sticking to the winding roads. However, it takes a seriously good road tire to achieve grip and control at speeds over 160mph, which is what Mark achieved yesterday. Beating the record on road-legal Pirelli P Zero Trofeos shows how far our tire technology has come on in the last 20 years.”
“The Subaru was driven on Pirelli P Zero Trofeo tires,” said Paul Hembery, director of Pirelli motorsport. “These are road-legal track tires designed for high performance driving. When Pond set the record in 1990, he drove on slicks, which would have enabled him to set a fast pace while sticking to the winding roads. However, it takes a seriously good road tire to achieve grip and control at speeds over 160mph, which is what Mark achieved yesterday. Beating the record on road-legal Pirelli P Zero Trofeos shows how far our tire technology has come on in the last 20 years.”
The WRX STI used for the record-breaking run had a stock 300hp Boxer engine and unmodified brake calipers. The springs and dampers were adjusted to cope with the various high speed bumps and jumps along the course.
In recognition of the speeds involved, and the fact there are little or no crash barriers around most of the TT road circuit, the STI was fitted with some essential safety equipment such as an MSA-specification T45 integrated rollcage, TRS race harnesses and a Lifeline extinguisher system. To warn spectators of the oncoming car, the Subaru team also fitted the STI with a high-decibel exhaust.
“Setting the record was both the most exhilarating and the most frightening thing I’ve ever done,” explained Higgins, whose career as a driver in the British and World Rally Championships hasn’t been short of excitement!
“The rules allow for a flying start, so I crossed the line at 125mph. I then went down through the Bray Hill junction (more conventionally taken at around 20mph) at over 150mph. Once that tricky section was out of the way I settled into the lap and got used to the balance and pace of the car.