Subaru's 'Airslayer' Unleashed: How Scott Speed Shattered Records at VIR
In the exhilarating world of motorsports, breaking records is not just about speed—it’s a statement, a testament to innovation, engineering, and the sheer will of those behind the wheel. At the heart of one such remarkable journey lies Subaru's WRX-based Airslayer, a race car unrestricted, untamed, and now, unforgettable, thanks to Scott Speed’s breathtaking performance at the Virginia International Raceway (VIR).
The stage was set during Car and Driver’s 17th annual Lightning Lap event, a contest renowned for pushing cars to their limits. Scott Speed, a name synonymous with velocity, lived up to his reputation by piloting the Airslayer to a time of just two minutes and twenty-five seconds around the Grand Course. However, this journey to the record books was anything but straightforward.
Day one saw Scott putting down a commendable lap in the one-minute twenty-sixes. With the magazine’s photography wrapped up on day two, Scott was nearly off the premises when an unexpected challenger emerged. The Le Mans Garage 56 NASCAR-based Chevrolet Camaro, steered by IMSA champion Jordan Taylor, had managed to outpace him. The battle lines were redrawn.
The Airslayer is no ordinary vehicle. Its heart beats with a flame-spitting exhaust system not meant for the faint-hearted. Onboard footage from Speed’s record-setting lap showcases an inferno under the hood, a visual metaphor for the driving force propelling him forward. This Subaru, built on a rallycross competition chassis from Vermont Sports Car and designed for Travis Pastrana’s stunts, proves its mettle beyond the track, capable of leaping over rivers and, as Speed demonstrated, taking shortcuts over grassy apexes in pursuit of victory.
Speed’s expertise in rallycross allowed him to exploit every inch of the circuit and then some. Pushing the Airslayer and himself to the limits, Speed clinched a time of 2:25.6, eclipsing the NASCAR titan by over a second. It’s a spectacle of determination, skill, and engineering prowess, encapsulated in a single lap that will be etched in the annals of VIR’s history.
Reflecting on the race, Speed’s recount of the lap is more than just a narration; it’s a glimpse into the mind of a racer at the edge of possibility. The Airslayer, with its hellish exhaust and boundary-defying design, became the chariot of choice for this modern-day record breaker. Scott Speed’s journey to reclaim the top spot is a thrilling reminder that in the world of motorsports, the line between legend and the here-and-now is drawn not in sand, but in blistering laps and fiery exhausts.
As the dust settles on this monumental achievement, one thing remains clear: the Subaru Airslayer, with Scott Speed at the helm, has not just broken a record; it has redefined what is possible on the asphalt. The roads of VIR will forever remember the day they were graced by a machine and a man who dared to defy the limits.