Subaru Returns to Gymkhana Stunt-Video Franchise With Purpose-Built 862 hp WRX STI
Subaru Motorsports USA and rallycross star Travis Pastrana have revealed the latest installement in the popular Gymkhana video series, after taking over the franchise from creator Ken Block. Gymkhana 2020 takes viewers on a high-flying, death-defying thrash theough Pastrana's hometown of Annapolis, MD. Aside from showcasing Pastrana's skills behind the wheel, the video stars an 862-horsepower one-off WRX STI built by Subaru exclusively for the film. Along with the big slides and tire destruction that are typical of the Gymkhana franchise, Pastrana’s signature style and action sports background mean this installment features bigger jumps—and more raw speed—than any before it.
“Making my first Gymkhana video has been an incredible experience!” said Pastrana. “I’m so thrilled to finally have the chance to do it, especially in my hometown, so I could bring these ideas I’ve had for years to life. Plus, Subaru built me the perfect STI for it. It’s unbelievable how much power and grip this thing has, and it took all the punishment I could throw at it!”
Starting from a production Subaru shell, the car was fully caged and lightened to just 2,623 pounds—over 800 pounds lighter than a stock STI—giving it a power-to-weight ratio of 3.0 lb/hp. The wild-looking carbon fiber body panels were validated in the wind tunnel—a first for a Gymkhana build—to ensure stability in the air and generate maximum downforce on the ground, especially for the video’s high-speed road sequence. A DRS-style active rear wing allowed Pastrana to adjust the car’s attitude in midair for the video’s groundbreaking jump stunts. Power comes from a motorsport-spec SUBARU BOXER engine displacing 2.3 liters and using a custom billet block and heads derived from the team’s rallycross program. The long-travel suspension is built with a huge range of adjustability to execute high-speed jump takeoffs and landings as well as super-precise proximity drifts.
We'd love to say: "You saw it here first!", but a few million Gymkhana fans have already taken the video viral over the past 24 hours.. for the rest of you, check it out here: