Subaru fudged WRX STI Nurburgring lap

The claim that the new Subaru WRX STI is "the faster ever" needs to be checked against the fine print. It turns out that the Subaru's record lap of 7 minutes and 55 seconds around the famous Nurburgring circuit in Germany -- the international benchmark for performance cars -- was not done in a vehicle that the public can buy off the showroom floor.

It has been revealed that Subaru modified the car specifically to suit the track conditions on the 21km circuit. Furthermore, judging by comments by Subaru executives, doctoring cars to get the fastest lap time has been a common practice by the Japanese brand.

Subaru has been testing on the Nurburgring over the past 18 years. It returned with the new model in April this year. With four-times consecutive World Rally Champion and former Subaru driver Tommi Makkinen behind the wheel, a specially-prepared WRX STI lapped the circuit in 7 minutes and 55 seconds -- more than four seconds quicker than the previous model of 2004.

However, it was revealed at the media launch of the WRX STI sedan in Australia overnight that there are "many differences" between the test car used in the record run and road cars that the public can buy.

Speaking through a translator, the project manager for the vehicle, Hiroshi Mori, said: "First of all there are many differences. The test car used in the Nurburgring is a 2.0-litre turbo, Japanese domestic version... The suspension was tuned for the testing in the Nurburgring to match test conditions."

The boss of Subaru Australia, Nick Senior, then added: "The car that was used was... run as a prototype car and all the changes were spoken about.

"When we talked about the Nurburgring it was always around a concept car. All the elements of the car were listed because it is a car that is sold in different markets with different engines.

"It obviously has a roll cage, Japanese domestic spec... and much of the cars that have run in the past have featured changes."

Despite putting their hands up to doctoring cars for the high speed runs on the Nurburgring, Subaru insists the new WRX STI is still quicker than all models before it.

"The message is that this is the quickest they have done on a like-for-like basis," said Senior.

A promotional video showed to the media said the latest test of the new WRX STI "started in Japan, using an advanced research and development test vehicle".

Subaru engineers then made the trek to Germany in April this year "after all parameters were adjusted".

The video then went on to say "18 years of effort paid off" and the car recorded "the fastest lap time ever realised by Subaru".

Profoundly, the video ends with a voice over that says: "This is not the end of Subaru's challenge, the story continues."

Indeed. Perhaps Subaru could manage the same time in a standard road car with standard suspension.

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