By Andrew Ganz
Wednesday, Jul 25th, 2012 @ 11:45 am
 
Every form of closed-course racing offers its own thrills and challenges for drivers and fans alike, but nothing compares to the immediate, in-your-face intensity of Global RallyCross.

From the first time the souped-up rally cars are fired up, the action doesn't stop until well after the checkered flag is thrown. Subaru's RallyCross cars are based on standard WRX STIs, but the madmen behind the wheels are anything but stock. We rode along with skateboarding legend Bucky Lasek, and even though he might be the freshest member of the Puma-Subaru team, he's well known as the most aggressive and fearless.

The Willow Springs test course lacked the signature jumps and loose gravel of RallyCross race tracks, but Lasek more than made up for the relatively simple track by flinging the modded WRX STI aggressively into each corner. Simply put, we couldn't believe that a car could grip so well and yet be so capable of expertly-controlled slides. The Subaru's suspension is firm but not punishing, and it ducks into corners with more lean than, say, a dedicated racing platform like an open-wheel racer. By the end of our roughly seven minute run, the WRX STI's engine was steaming; between the ambient desert heat and the way Lasek was pushing the car, it's obvious that all the add-ons (especially extra cooling) were essential. We can't even imagine what it feels like to be on a closed course with nine other cars.

The Global RallyCross WRX STIs start as standard production cars, but the only thing factory on them is their five-door bodystyles. Vermont SportsCar, Subaru's long-standing performance partner, strips the hatchbacks and adds extra seam welding to cope with the additional power and the intense g's (not to mention the occasional intentional bumps) the cars see on a race track. Underhood, the basic engine remains a flat four-cylinder, but Vermont SportsCar has beefed up everything - especially the Garrett Turbocharger. To ensure fair competition, Global RallyCross mandates a 45 mm restrictor that keeps power at around 550 horsepower and 750 lb-ft. of torque. And torque is the name of the game, since the tight nature of the race tracks means the cars are hammered through short straightaways before the brakes are maddeningly applied at the beginning of a curve. To keep drivers focused, the five-speed gearbox is clutchless; one foot goes on the brake and the other goes on the skinny pedal. As you'll see in the video, Lasek tap dances faster than Donald Driver on Dancing with the Stars.

As the car is thrown through the tight corners of the test track, that gigantic, rather unwieldily rear wing does its best to control downforce. Without it, Vermont SportsCar's team told us, the WRX would be all over the road. Unlike some rally series - not to mention some production cars - RallyCross drivers don't have control of the vehicle's three differentials. As we learned during our ride-along in Lasek's temporary passenger seat (which was fortunately bolted down!), the drivers have no time to do much other than steer, shift, accelerate, brake and watch out for competitive vehicles.

The RallyCross cars endure some of the highest-stress racing, and although they are generally reliable machines, the rigors of racing dictate that parts need to be replaced fairly often. During our visit to Subaru's testing grounds at Willow Springs, we saw everything from engine swaps to brake changes as the team attempted to prepare its cars for competition.

The RallyCross season is short, with just five venues including the X Games earlier this summer in Los Angeles. One more race in Las Vegas in August remains, but passion for the series is quickly building - and automakers ranging from Subaru to Dodge, Hyundai and especially Ford are investing heavily in their own factory-backed teams.

Video edited by Matt Sargent.
  

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