Prodrive

One of the perks of my job is that I get a chance to go to some very cool places and, in turn, drive some amazing cars. Last fall I crossed the Atlantic to visit what I would call "the happiest place on earth" for car nuts. No, not Disneyland Paris: I’m talking about Prodrive’s test facility in the UK.

My main point of the trip was to hang with the Subaru World Rally Team during Wales Rally GB, courtesy of Subaru of America–quite an adventure in itself. But it’s one thing to talk cars and watch them zip by at breakneck speed. It’s so much better to be driving them, which is why I so looked forward to the Prodrive visit.

I had the chance to drive a 2007 Type UK STI on Prodrive’s private road course and then tried my hand on the ice simulator, behind the wheel of a UK 2008 WRX (all of these cars were all right-hand drive, by the way). But those Subies were nothing when compared to my final car of the day: Yes, I had the chance to drive a Prodrive Group-N WRC car. Continue reading…

Even though the Group-N cars are based on production models and are delivered from Subaru in 100% working order, Prodrive spares no expense to make them even better. From seam-welding the entire body for added rigidity, to grinding paint to the metal and re-coating, just to save those precious few ounces necessary for a winning race car. The end result is stunning: a car that turns on a dime and wears like a finely tailored suit. I want one. Only problem is, I don’t have a spare $250,000 plus the expense necessary to buy the required spare transmission and motor. Bummer.

You may not be able to own your own WRC car, but you can watch some pretty good rallying here in the States. Check out www.rally-america.com for the largest US-series, with events throughout the country. Of course, we also cover the WRC and US events in Subiesport Magazine.