447kW Subaru WRX STI Type RA sets Nurburgring record

Only a handful of cars have lapped the Nürburgring in less than seven minutes, and the fastest sedan around the Green Hell held a lap time of 7:32.

Until the Subaru WRX STI Type RA NBR. The 447kW four-door set a blistering 6:57.5 lap, which is not only the fastest a sedan has run the ‘Ring, but is among the upper-echelon of lap times in general.

With extra power thanks to a 75-mm intake, 25psi of boost, and 9-inch-wide slick tires, it’s not a regular production car. The record was still timed and verified by Nürburgring officials.

The RA NBR is a custom built race car built by Prodrive with a full roll cage welded into the standard unibody. Subaru says Prodrive calculated the car’s top speed at the Nurburgring would be 288km/h.

"We brought the WRX STI Type RA NBR Special here to set a record and call attention to the WRX STI Type RA that we will launch later this year,” says Subaru product comms manager Dominick Infante.

The WRX STI Type RA promises a great deal, with improved performance and styling and even better handling dynamics than the current car."

The car Infante is referring to is the road going (and far less wild) version of the RA, which still features upgraded running gear, but only puts out 231kW, which is still a mild improvement over the standard 221kW.

The ‘RA’ stands for ‘Record Attempt’, a moniker which has been used in the past by Subaru, most notably on a Subaru Legacy which broke the FIA World Speed Endurance Record by driving over 99,758km in 18 days with a top speed of 222km/h.