SUBARU SMASHES ISLE OF MAN LAP RECORD WITH STANDARD WRX STI

Video Clips: Mark Higgins' Moment!

Posted: June 10, 2011 10:47 AM

SUBARU SMASHES ISLE OF MAN LAP RECORD WITH STANDARD WRX STI

Posted: June 10, 2011 10:40 AM

The long-standing road-car lap record for the Isle of Man TT circuit has been comprehensively smashed in a production-spec Subaru WRX STI saloon. In his very first run around the challenging 37.8-mile course, former British Rally Champion Mark Higgins posted a blistering lap time of 19 minutes and 56.7 seconds, translating to an average speed of 113mph. The peak speed achieved during the lap was 162mph.

Higgins’ time is more than two minutes faster than the previous record, set by the late Tony Pond 21 years ago to the day (on 6 June 1990), at the wheel of an Rover 827 Vitesse. Pond was the first to break the average 100mph barrier in a road car, and his lap record has stood ever since.

The TT event organisers gave Higgins just one lap to conduct his record attempt in the car, and there was no opportunity to carry out high speed practice runs.

The WRX STI used for the record breaking run was a standard Subaru production car, equipped with a 300PS Horizontally-Opposed Boxer engine, unmodified brake callipers and with road-legal Pirelli P Zero Trofeo tyres. Springs and dampers were adjusted to minimise any potential damage when the car encountering the various bumps and jumps at high speed along the course.

In recognition of the speeds involved, and the fact that there are little or no crash barriers around most of the TT road circuit, the WRX STI was fitted with some essential safety enhancements. These included an MSA-specification T45 integrated roll cage, TRS race harnesses and a Lifeline extinguisher system. To help forewarn spectators of the presence of the oncoming car, the Subaru team also fitted the WRX STI with a high-decibel exhaust.

“Setting the record was both the most exhilarating and the most frightening thing I have ever done,” explains Higgins, whose career as a driver in the British and World Rally Championships hasn’t exactly 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 – 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,” explains Higgins. “That we managed to set such an impressive time at our first attempt is a great tribute to the Subaru, especially given that so few modifications have been made. The engine pulled incredibly strongly throughout and the cornering capability proved crucial on such a twisty, unforgiving course.”

The TT crowds got fully behind the record attempt, reports Higgins. “The atmosphere out on the circuit was incredible, especially once the spectators heard over the PA system that we were in the process of setting a new record. I could hear the cheers in the car and it really added to the experience.”

The outright lap record on the TT course was set in 2009 by John McGuinness on a Honda CBR1000RR ‘Fireblade’ motorcycle. McGuinness posted a time of 17 minutes and 12.3 seconds, equivalent to an average speed of 131mph.

Vital Equipment adds four-wheel TT lap record to existing two wheel

Posted: June 7, 2011 10:37 AM

The UK distributor for Carless Racing Fuels and Eni lubricants, Vital Equipment, helped former British Rally Champion Mark Higgins set a new lap record on the Isle of Man closed-road TT circuit today. The company, which already lays claim to the two-wheel lap record set by John McGuiness in 2009, dispensed the Carless Racing Fuel for the record attempt, using a lightly modified Subaru Impreza.

The original attempt was to be made by brother and Subaru Rally Team USA driver David Higgins, thanks to Subaru providing the official car to the Isle of Man TT races. However, David was unable to make it, due to rallying commitments in America, so Mark stepped in as replacement.

The idea was to go one further than Tony Pond, who set the bar at just over an average speed of 100mph. Vital Equipment already holds the motorcycle lap record, thanks to distributing the fuel for John McGuiness' record 130+mph lap two years ago and were keen to provide the perfect fuel for this year's four-wheeled attempt, alongside supplying much of the TT field over practice and race weeks.

Despite harking from the Island, Mark was apprehensive ahead of Monday's challenge on the closed-road circuit, his first of three possible attempts.

It soon became clear that the Vital Equipment-fuelled Impreza was more than up to the task. By the time he reached the first checkpoint, Mark was already averaging more than 116mph. By halfway around the lap, this had risen to 124mph but dropped slightly as he tackled the long climb up the mountain, to around 120mph.

However, by the time he reached the world-famous grandstand on the start/finish straight, he had completed the lap in just 19 minutes and 56.67 seconds, giving an average of 113.505mph, a staggering achievement on his first attempt.

Speaking to local radio station Energy FM after the lap, Higgins said: "It's the TT course, isn't it! You've got to respect the course and I'm glad to get the first lap in. I know what the car does now, particularly in the big corners and it will be interesting to see what we can do with slicks on.

"The whole thing's pretty special really, with all the people around the course. Once I got into it, I started relaxing after I took some of the big corners fast. I was a bit nervous before I got there but I got into my stride.

"It was a bit scrappy in places and I know we can go quicker; I made a real mess of a couple of the tight corners - I was struggling to get the car slowed down. Ramsey was a nightmare - I missed a load of gears but I think there is more to come on the next go."

Mark has two more attempts at the closed-road circuit, one on Wednesday and one more on Friday, the final day of racing, so the record may well grow even higher.

Vital Equipment fuels world record attempt

Posted: May 11, 2011 9:23 PM

The UK distributor for Carless Racing Fuels and ENI Lubricants, Vital Equipment, will provide the fuel for a new record attempt at this year's Isle of Man TT races. It will supply Carless Racing Fuel as former British Rally Champion and islander David Higgins attempts to set a new lap record for a car on the closed road course, in a production-based Subaru Impreza.

The standing lap record for a car on the closed-road course was set in 1990, as rally legend Tony Pond drove a Rover 825 Vitesse around the TT island course, averaging 100mph over the 37.75 mile circuit. The record has stood for 21 years but this year, Higgins and Subaru aim to break that record.

Vital Equipment and Carless Racing Fuels can already legitimately lay claim to one lap record - in 2009, John McGuinness used Carless Hiperflo Moto 4T, distributed by Vital Equipment, to set the standing lap record on two wheels, at almost 132mph average.

This year's attempt, dubbed the 'TT Challenge' just like Pond's achievement, will see Higgins, who drives for Subaru Rally Team USA and is double USA Rally Champion, take to what the organisers are calling a demonstration lap. However, even a single lap will result in a record, since no four wheel-drive car has set a time under closed road conditions. Furthermore, should he break Pond's 100mph barrier, then he will take the outright four-wheel lap record.

There will be three attempts during the second week of racing, with slots on Monday 6th June after racing has finished as a sighting lap, Wednesday 8th June between the morning and afternoon races and the official demonstration slot before racing begins for the final Seniors race, on Friday 10th June.

The Subaru will be run in near-showroom conditions, with basic modifications carried out for safety, including fitting a roll cage, motorsport seats and harnesses. It will also be re-mapped to run on the Carless Turbo Ultimate fuel, widely regarded as the best fuel for turbocharged race, rally and high performance turbo cars.

Commenting, Managing Director of Vital Equipment Alistair Roberts Said:
"I am delighted that we will be distributing the fuel for this year's TT Challenge. It was quite an achievement to help John [McGuinness] to the two-wheel record two years ago and I hope that we will be able to play our part in the realisation of a new four-wheel record.

"The island circuit is an incredible experience - 37.75 miles of twisty country and urban roads combined with bleak and extremely fast sections over the mountain. To come close to achieving an average speed of more than 100mph over the lap will mean that the Subaru will be at full speed for considerable time.

"This puts incredible strain on a turbocharged engine and this is one of the reasons that the Carless Turbo Ultimate is a perfect fuel - it resists the tendency for the engine to detonate at high internal temperatures and helps the output to remain consistent under all conditions."

Driver David Higgins said:
"Having grown up on the Isle of Man I understand that the TT Races has a mythical status and an incredible heritage and I am looking forward to adding another chapter to its history.

"The Mountain Course represents a stunning drive, but for once I'm not going to have much chance to take in the views."

Vital Equipment appoints Philip Morrow as NI Affiliate

Posted: May 8, 2011 12:59 PM

The UK distributor for Carless Racing Fuels and ENI lubricants, Vital Equipment, has appointed former works Mitsubishi British Rally Championship driver Philip Morrow as its affiliate in Northern Ireland. Using its existing infrastructure, Morrow Fuels will distribute both families of products from the Vital Equipment portfolio at race and rally meetings throughout Northern Ireland.

Morrow is no stranger to motorsport - he won the 2007 Mitsubishi Evo Challenge one-make rally series in the UK and with it, a works drive with the official Mitsubishi team in the 2008 British Rally Championship.

He recently made a welcome return to the driving seat, as he contested the Circuit of Ireland Rally in his Group N Mitsubishi Lancer EvoIX.

He is also no stranger to Vital Equipment, having assisted the company in various capacities since it began distributing the control fuel at the FIA World Rally Championship, as well as the British Touring Car Championship and the Porsche Supercup.

It was a logical decision for Vital Equipment to enlist the experience and knowledge of both Phillip and the family business, Morrow Fuels, to enable motorsport competitors in Northern Ireland to benefit from Carless Racing Fuels and ENI lubricants.

Commenting, Vital Equipment Managing Director Alistair Roberts said: "I am delighted to officially welcome Phillip and the Morrow Fuels team to the Vital Equipment operation. Phillip personally has assisted us in various capacities in the six years since we formed the company and I cannot think of a better way for our products to be offered to motorsport competitors throughout Northern Ireland than by Phillip and Morrow Fuels.

"The company has been distributing fuels and heating oil in Northern Ireland for years and this experience, coupled with Phillip's own years of motorsport experience is a natural fit. Indeed, Phillip's brother Simon is also extremely experienced, having co-driven for Phillip for years and is involved in the family business."