SUBARU BUILT A WILD RALLY CAR BASED ON THE WRX, INSPIRED BY KEN BLOCK’S GYMKHANA

The Project Midnight WRX is the fastest race car Subaru Motorsports USA has ever made

Subaru Motorsports USA’s latest build, the “Project Midnight” WRX, is a fully-functional rally racing machine that takes styling cues from the legendary late Ken Block’s Gymkhana cars. The high-performance tarmac race car is built for Speed, literally: The time-attack monster will be piloted up the hill at this weekend’s Goodwood Festival of Speed by American race car driver Scott Speed, known for competing in open-wheel, stock car and rallycross racing.

“Subaru Motorsports USA and the team at Vermont SportsCar have delivered an absolute beast,” Speed said. “When driving the car it clearly has rallycross roots, but the wider tires, track, and geometry give it a very unique feel and incredible grip. The ultimate driving machine; half RX, half sports car – a true joy to drive.”

Subaru released select photos of its Project Midnight WRX, a 670-horsepower ripper powered by a 2.0-liter, horizontally opposed flat-four engine. It has potential to launch Speed into another galaxy with an offering of 399 more horses over a stock WRX, up to 680 pound-feet of torque, plus it pulls all the way up to 9,500 rpm before hitting the redline. Did we mention that it spits flames through a hood-exist exhaust? Yes, please.

The Project Midnight WRX is based on the current WRX ARA24 rally car. Lightweight carbon fiber body panels give the car an extra wide look while lowering the curb weight to 2,469 pounds, around 1,000 less than a production WRX. This is an impressive weight savings considering the all-wheel-drive platform and added safety equipment.

Sitting with a menacing low stance reminiscent of speed and stability, it wears a double-decker spoiler that reaches to the sky. The skyscraper wing provides enough downforce to require bracing at the bottom to resist flex. Other aerodynamic optimizing features seen in the provided photos include dive planes which direct air around the wide front fenders and rearward toward the massive door vents. A lip below each rear door directs air around the rear fender flares toward the rear wing.

Subaru Motorsports USA will reveal Project Midnight to the public for the first time with a run up the hill at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed, which takes place Thursday, July 11 through Sunday July 14. The brand plans to make multiple appearances with the car at various time trial events throughout the year.

The post Subaru Built a Wild Rally Car Based on the WRX, Inspired by Ken Block’s Gymkhana appeared first on The Online Automotive Marketplace.

2024-07-11T15:08:41Z