SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI - TRAVIS PASTRANA’S PERSONAL 199

Photos: Lars Gange

SUBARU RALLY TEAM USA (SRT USA) DRIVER TRAVIS PASTRANA HAS A NEW WRX STI STREET CAR IN HIS GARAGE – A GIFT FROM SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. IN HONOR OF HIS WINNING THE RALLY AMERICA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP THREE YEARS IN A ROW.

THE PREFERENCES

Travis Pastrana garages a number of vehicles. So Subaru wanted this one to be special – and uniquely his own! It was to be distinctive, but not outrageous. It was to be a thoroughly streetable vehicle, drivable in any weather.

Who better to put together Pastrana’s personal ride but the technicians from Vermont SportsCar who work on the SRT USA rally cars. They have glimpses into what he likes in terms of performance, control, and vehicle lifestyle.

The team took into account a number of Pastrana’s preferences and his personality. They understood his predilection for color, applying that to the exterior and to interior accents. They also were familiar with how Pastrana prefers his vehicles to be set up, and they were able to factor that into engine and suspension tweaks.

Beyond Pastrana himself, the team was aware of his sponsors and Subaru partners. The car incorporates products manufactured by those companies whenever possible. In addition, the car includes visual cues reflecting Pastrana’s history, personality, and public persona.

Pastrana was engaged in the car’s design throughout the project, signing off on color, design, and equipment.

THE PROCESS

Body

A stock WRX STI was stripped to the metal, inside and out. The body was painted Pastrana’s signature color. Gravel tire tread graphics adorn the top and sides.

Various exterior pieces were added or replaced original equipment. Under the front air dam, the front end was given an STI chin spoiler. The front grille was replaced by an SPT accessory grille. PIAA High Intensity Discharge driving lamps were added. Over the engine compartment, the car was given a carbon fiber hood. A carbon fiber rear wing finishes the roofline. Both the hood and wing were from Subaru partner Crawford Performance. Rally spec mud flaps were added at all four wheels.

Engine Compartment

Under the hood, most engine components remain standard WRX STI. Two modifications include a performance downpipe and a tuned Electronic Control Unit. Exhaust finishers were added at the end of the exhaust system. The standard shifter was replaced by an STI short-throw shifter.

Dress-up underhood parts include a blue SPT billet aluminum battery hold down and aluminum oil cap.

Chassis

Chassis modifications tightened up handling. Pastrana’s car was stiffened with SPT front strut and lower chassis braces. The brake system was given custom red STI Brembo^®1 calipers with white “STI” logos.

Stock wheels and tires were replaced by Work Emotion XD9 18" x 9" wheels in custom satin black mounted with BFGoodrich^® g-Force™ Super Sport A/S 275/35 ZR18 high-performance tires.

Interior

Inside, the team created what can only be described as a “Pastrana environment.” The stock interior was replaced by carbon fiber patterned interior trim and custom blue Alcantara^®2 upholstery, which harks back to the color of the original STi. It has yellow piping and an embroidered “199 Pastrana” on the seatback. The yellow accents are matched by yellow stitching on the steering wheel, shifter boot, and parking brake handle boot. The blue-and-yellow combination recalls Pastrana’s SRT USA uniform.

Electronics include an ECLIPSE navigation/DVD/CD/MP3 stereo head unit and KICKER amplifiers and speakers. The KICKER subwoofer is fitted to a custom-built enclosure. For entertainment, Pastrana has an Xbox 360^®, with custom yellow controllers, mounted under the passenger seat. It plays a Colin McRae DIRT™ video game. Other interior additions are a rally map light and co-driver footrest.

THE PRODUCT

In its final form, the 199 Pastrana car is a stunning piece of work, without being over the top either in appearance or in performance. Bright yellow and blue with graphic reminders of Pastrana’s rally successes, it fits the man in the same manner as his rally shoes. His car is bold and embraces life, like the energy Pastrana brings to all his endeavors.

There’s nothing subtle here. Yet it’s a tight, coordinated package that invokes smiles.

THE PRESENTATION

The 199 Pastrana WRX STI was first shown to the public in mid-February at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show. Pastrana attended the show and signed autographs on February 14 and 15. As ebullient as his new ride, Pastrana drew a large crowd of fans.