Subaru Rally Team USA (SRT USA) runs an Open Class rally car in the Rally America National Championship with David Higgins piloting the #75 STI.
Beginning with a stock 2012 Subaru Impreza WRX STI right off the showroom floor, the team's technical partner, Vermont SportsCar, modifies the car for competition. First, the vehicle's interior is stripped bare. Then the body shell is lightened and fully seam-welded for added strength. A multipoint roll cage, manufactured from T45 steel, is welded into place for added stiffness and security.
The standard gas tank is replaced with a rally-proof Kevlar fuel cell, and lightweight carbon/Kevlar RECARO SPA ProRacer competition seats (w/HANS - Head and Neck Restraint System) are also fitted to the car. Other interior additions include a custom STI dashboard, carbon fiber door panels, a Coralba C-Giant Rally Odometer and an onboard Fire Suppression System.
The stock dampers are swapped out for heavy-duty rally dampers made by EXE-TC competition suspension. The rally dampers are fully adjustable and built to take the abuse that off-road gravel rallying entails. Under the hood sits a 2.0 liter, 4-cylinder, turbocharged and intercooled STI engine with a Rally America Championship-mandated 34 mm turbo inlet restrictor. Launch control, a turbo anti-lag system and a hydraulic handbrake are just a few of the performance modifications.
A 5-speed, close-ratio dog-engagement gearbox is used, which allows driver David Higgins to shift without depressing the clutch. The DCCD (Driver Controlled Center Differential) is used in a similar way to a stock STI street car, but the team installs a competition ECU for the differential, which allows for greater control of the torque delivery between all four wheels.
The exterior of the car remains close to stock, with the simple addition of mud flaps and a 1/4-inch aluminum skid plate underneath. Up top, a roof-mounted air scoop aids in cooling both drivers inside and the stock rear wing is replaced with a larger vertically slotted wing, which greatly improves down force to the rear of the car, even as it slides sideways. No detail goes overlooked on these amazing machines.
SRT USA 2012 Open Class Rally Car
- Subaru Impreza WRX STI prepared by Vermont SportsCar
WHEELS
- Work - 15x7 Gravel Rally Wheels
ROLL CAGE / SHELL PREP
- Seam-Welded Shell
- Rally America / FIA Open Class Specification Roll Cage
SEATS
- RECARO SPA ProRacer w/HANS (Head and Neck Restraint)
LIGHTS
- PIAA HID Driving Lights
- Carbon Fiber Housing, Hood-Mounted Light Pod
INTERIOR
- Modified STI Dash
- Carbon Fiber Door Cards and Carbon Fiber Co-Driver Footrest
- Sabelt Harnesses
- Hydraulic Handbrake
- Coralba C-Giant Rally Computer
FUEL CELL
- Under-Floor Fuel Cell
- 65+ Liters
BODY
- STI Carbon Fiber Roof Scoop
- 1/4 Inch Aluminum Sump Guard
- Composite Under-Floor Protection
- Carbon Fiber Rear Wing
MISC
- STI Increased Durability Driveshafts
- STI Quick Ration Steering Rack (11 to 1)
- STI Increased Durability Front Hubs
- STI Power Steering Pump
FLUIDS
- MOTUL 15w-50 Fully Synthetic Motor Oil
- MOTUL GEARff Competition 75w-140 Gear Oil
TIRES
- BFGoodrich Rally Tires
ENGINE
- Horizontally Opposed 4-Cylinder
- Turbocharged and Intercooled
- Approx. 303 hp and 451 lb-ft of Torque
- Rally America Open Class Mandated 34 mm Restrictor
WEIGHT
- Under 3000 lbs
TRANSMISSION
- KAPS 5-Speed Dog-Engagement Gearbox
DRIVE SYSTEM
- Programmable DCCD (Driver Controlled Center Differential) ECU
CLUTCH
- EXEDY Twin Plate Racing Clutch
DIFFERENTIALS
- Cusco (Front & Rear)
SUSPENSION
- EXE-TC Competition Suspension
- Pressure Sensitive Damping / Hydraulic Bump Stop
- EXE-TC Rear Upper Control Arms
- EXE-TC Rear Trailing Link
- EXE-TC Tow Arm
BRAKES (Gravel Spec)
- AP / STI Gravel Rally Brakes
EXHAUST SYSTEM
- Stainless Steel 3-inch, Quick Change
