NEWS: @Prodrive Super Scooby Blitzes Nürburgring Nordschleife in 6:57.5

We've long said that a sorted Scooby is one of the fastest things around the 12.8-mile Nürburgring Nordschleife 72+ corners. With its symmetrical all-wheel-drive, low centre of gravity and torquey turbo engine, it's a car that was built for the track, even in standard spec. In fact, any Subaru is well-suited out there: We have great memories of lapping around the outside and up the inside of 911s and other "track day specials" tip-toeing around the place in the wet and ice, unable to use their power, with us flat-out everywhere in a diesel Legacy, sliding and sliding with consummate ease. Subarus love the place: The Green Hell is a Subaru second home.

So it was inevitable that when rally and race Gods Prodrive got their hands on their already record-blitzing Isle of Man TT WRX STI Type RA (which just came third at the recent Goodwood FOS hill climb shoot-out) and created a "NBR Special" a new lap record for a four-door saloon at the famous race track was always on the cards! And so it was last week... bravo Prodrive!

But (secretly) even they must have been chuffed to achieve a time of 6:57.5 – a few tenths behind a Porsche 918 Spyder and a second off the pace of a Radical SR8, not to mention faster than a Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce or Nissan GT-R Nismo – wow. Just wow! 

And there's been no lap record cheating either. Provide don't need to hide. The time was achieved using the Nürburgring timing equipment and was officially verified by track officials.

Subaru said: "The WRX STI Type RA NBR Special was designed to show the capabilities of the Subaru saloon and all-wheel drive. This time attack car has set lap records at the Isle of Man TT, the Goodwood Festival of Speed hill climb (where it was also 3rd fastest overall) and now it has conquered the 12.8-mile (20.6-kilometre) lap around the Nürburgring Nordschleife. The Prodrive-built time attack car is equipped with a rally spec 2.0-litre Boxer engine and Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive.

"The WRX STI Type RA NBR Special is a custom-built race car built by Prodrive using a standard 2017 WRX STI with a full roll cage welded into the standard WRX STI body for added strength and stiffness.

"It has a modified 2.0-litre Subaru WRC-spec boxer engine with a 75-mm intake, and the turbo runs at 250 psi of boost (whoa! Ed). This produces more than 600 horsepower at 8,500 rpm. Prodrive calculated the top speed at the ’Ring would be 179 mph at 8,500 rpm in top gear. The car has 9-inch-wide slick tires all around. It uses a WRC gearbox with an automatic clutch, modified with hydraulics for paddle-shift operation. Shift times are some of the fastest at 20 to 25 milliseconds.

"A redesigned aero-package, different than last year’s TT car set up, delivers improved handling and top speed on the NBR Special. At top speed, the whole package produces about 295 kilograms of downforce. The design includes a Drag Reduction System rear wing similar to the technology found in Formula 1 cars. With its combined electric and hydraulic operation, the wing can deploy for full downforce/drag under braking or in fast turns and then open for less downforce/drag on long straights. The driver has full control of the DRS via a steering wheel mounted control taking less than 20 milliseconds to change position fully."

What a performance. Love it. Love it. Love it. 

What we would do to get a spin out in that bad boy... 

And you can bet, now the Prodrive boffins have the data to analyse, and set-up information to hand, they will be back... and will go even faster. You have been warned mere mortals.