Watch This 600-HP Rallycross-Spec Subaru WRX STI Fly Down Tail of the Dragon Sideways
Former F1 and NASCAR racer turned Rallycross weapon, Scott Speed, is a force behind the wheel, with three Global Championships and an American title under his belt. Thanks to a little help from Red Bull Rally, we have a chance to watch as the often-sideways racer takes his race-prepped Subaru for a blast down one of America’s most intense roads: the Tail of the Dragon.
Located along the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, Tail of the Dragon is an 11-mile stretch of road containing 318 twists and turns. It’s an icon of the American motoring scene, though you’ll often find the road choked with travelers and motorcyclists alike. Luckily for Speed, Red Bull Rally was able to close the road down in order to see just how hard a professional driver can push down US 129.
Speed’s weapon of choice is none other than his RX-spec Subaru WRX STI. While the chassis itself is indeed based on a road-going Subaru, the powertrain tucked between the fenders is motorsport-grade silliness. The turbocharged flat-four provides a massive 600 hp and 680 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels, which allows the rallycross machine to knock off 0-60 times that rival those of a Tesla Model S Plaid. Thanks to the aggressive aero package that the cars wear, Speed is able to leverage that power in ways your average modified Subaru simply cannot. All of that together makes for an incredibly satisfying run down The Dragon.
Helped along by some seriously impressive drone piloting, the clip does a great job of highlighting just how tricky this section of road can be at speed. Not only do you have to contend with all of the corners, but the surface of the road pitches and weaves dramatically from corner entry to corner exit. Of course, tackling that challenge is made a bit more forgiving when you don’t have to worry about those pesky lines dividing the roadway.
For as much fun as it's been to watch Speed’s teammate Travis Pastrana step into the Gykahama series, this particular clip has a satisfying simplicity to it. It’s all about Speed using his Rallycross skills to make good on his namesake, without any of the added drama required by a popular video series. It’s almost old school in that sense, and certainly worth a watch. Maybe even two.
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