Mark Higgins breaks Isle of Man TT circuit record with Subaru WRX STI sedan
For any sports car in the world, a record-breaking Nurburgring lap is one of the most important deciding factors of its credibility. However, there is another place in the world where records are just as important – the Isle of Man. Located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles, the Isle of Man is a self-governing British Crown Dependency.
Subaru announced today that the long-standing road-car lap record for the Isle of Man TT circuit has been topped in a production-spec Subaru WRX STI sedan by former British Rally Champion Mark Higgins.
Higgins drove the 37.8 mile course in 19:56.7, which gives his run an average speed of 113 mph. The top speed achieved during the run was 162 mph.
Higgins time tops the previous record set by Tony Pond 21 years ago in a Rover 827 Vitesse. Pond was the first to break the average 100 mph barrier in a road car, and his lap record has stood ever since.
“Setting the record was both the most exhilarating and the most frightening thing I have ever done,” said Higgins. “The rules allow for a flying start, so I crossed the line at 125mph. I then went down through the Bray Hill junction – normally taken at around 20mph – at over 150mph. Once that tricky section was out of the way I settled into the lap and quickly got used to the balance and sheer pace of the car. In the end the lap was simply fantastic, and the WRX STI behaved impeccably.”
– By: Omar Rana