Nürburgring Lap with Tommi Mäkinen in the 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Prototype - CAR and DRIVER

It's 7:30 on a cool May morning at the Nürburgring. I strap into the (left-side) passenger seat of the STI prototype used a month prior to set Subaru's latest lap time. We're given the all-clear for a half-hour of 'Ring fun.
2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Sets Nürburgring Lap Record - Feature www.caranddrive...
2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Sedan - Car News www.caranddrive...

[@K11ARLL]

Tommi - "The road was not closed!? Big fucking truck in the way????" Japanese men - ...............................................(whips out camera) xD

[@tomtomracingchannel8480]

LoSt_ReNeGaDe They aren't understand English lol

[@installshieldwizard3017]

@@tomtomracingchannel8480 *engrish

[@westcoastboogy]

I am very impressed on how far Subaru has come with the interior of these cars. Not saying that they were bad, but they have improved immensely.

[@RodrigoNascimentoMattos]

9 years later and i can tell, this "new" sti and wrx have the worst interior ever... best ones where till 2006. than its all plastic and hard materiais inside.

[@keyboarddancers7751]

By a country mile, the best in-car camera placement of all Nürburgring videos.

[@r3b3ld3_one]

WTF!! a crane in the middle of track in the road line... clap clap Nuburg staff

[@skylinevspec000]

it is a public road....

[@drazenbudis7881]

skylinevspec000 Its a permanent circuit

[@Nordmore68]

Mäkinen! One of the all time greatest! And a very nice person. The smoothest and fastest, look at the smooth and gentle gearshifts you who fancy Fast and Furious-films and other american "stick-shift-movies". ;)

[@samijaev]

We used to live next to Tommi one time... me and his kid are still friends (im 12)

[@justsomerandomostrich1906]

This guy is really good when it comes to car control. I hear little tire squeal. Going really fast without exceeding the tires traction capabilities is really a hard feat to accomplish.

[@1979-b9t]

Tamba Momochi Throttle control is one of the reasons. Mäkinen is renown for being very precise with it during driving.

[@deadstump4970]

He is a four time world rally champion. I would hope that he knows how to drive a car.

[@FCT8306onTwoWheels]

Finns are rally legends

[@droogiesouls8635]

Plus he drives a wrong sided car, steering wheel on left instead of right.

[@Otaner142]

Tamba Momochi he transfers the car weight as intended thats how a 4wd car should be driven . Then you kids complaining how their STI has understeer when in reality they are the ones that need to master the skill of driving

[@gstrdms]

almost 10 years out the Rally game and hes still killing it.

[@Mcrisara]

Does Tommi reminds anyone else of Reubens Barrichello? Good god, they might as well be twins

[@georgejacob3162]

I thought it was Rubens when I saw the KZbin thumbnail!

[@rosegraham5283]

Kelsey Grammer, Tommi Mäkinen and Reubens Barrichello looks very similar to each other... I can say the same about Mads Mikkelsen and Mika Hakkinen too. ;)

[@Barry_the]

Yes but Tommi is good.

[@AASIDJAALO]

Rubens is his sister

[@bikerpastor71]

VERY VERY COOL. Just proves how hard it is to make it around that track. I am a big fan of Gran Turismo on Playstation and I must say they did a good job in representing this track.

[@egorgeg]

Every time I watch this (Which is around 3 times a week) I play GT5 afterwards. Same car, same track, same conditions. Most fun I have ever had.

[@Hannu_H]

Tommi Mäkinen, my fellow country man :) Great driver and humble person :)

[@tommack8650]

What superb driving skills! Bring tires up to temp first. Easy throttle in wet spots. Knowing which curbs to climb and which to Apex. Carrying speed through turns with finesse, not power. Hence very little tire squeel. Driving a quarter mile down the road, with his reaction and cool allowing him to stop for equipment truck. Silky smooth precision. Thank you!!!

[@jeremyjackson2897]

Tom Mack not being opposed for the sake of it but I heard loads of tyre squeal !

[@Mago84013]

1:38 translation: "You fucked up my time attack and almost killed me!!!"

[@Tarten46]

love the equal length exhaust mans. sounds wicked spun up.

[@Xmvw2X]

He caters to Subaru's awd system and car's output level really well in his braking and throttle applications.

[@racemonster6931]

7:29 STG is crazy on a wet track. Nice run! Only lot of curbs. But this man knows what he does.

[@TetraRage]

@1:30 he says to the Subaru personnel "Road was not closed, tell your guys", what did Subaru personnel do? Take his photo hahaha, brill

[@soop0r]

From what I've heard, equal length headers give significantly more power and torque and faster turbo spool.

[@EvoRacer4G63]

I miss the time when Tommi Makinen drive Mitsubishi Evo :(

[@kevedwards]

EVO800PS. Now he manages the Toyota rally team so it's allll good 👍

[@EvoRacer4G63]

kev edwards I know👍

[@coin666911]

I miss the time when Mitsubishi produced evo's, and I'm a Subaru guy. Subaru needs competition to make good cars.

[@matt24d1]

Awesome, I am picking my STI up today.

[@tomsfruitstand6821]

1:48 When you're on the ring and you see Tommi Makinen.

[@Elmo187]

@TugaLife22 No. It did a 7:55. Read the description over again. It's talking about "7:30" as in the time of day. Also, the GT-R has a 7:24 lap time.

[@freakypick]

@tommyblunt the stock exhaust limits the rumble at high rpms but is you listen it drops revs often like a true boxter and when he grabs a gear in the corner or dips in the clutch on the corner it rumbles to a point where the exhaust can't manage to cancel it out

[@sigmapsicharlie]

Tommi needs to come back and do it in a Evo X.

[@matt24d1]

@stagbaws LOL!!!, I was happy to get it. I traded in my 05 sti and had to have the new one when I saw they brought back the sedan.

[@VladBlok28]

@newkcrowe The closer the wheel is to your torso, the more strength you have to turn it, if your arms are extended it's harder to turn it. This is important in racing cars with downforce and without power steering. I think that's the reason

[@newkcrowe]

is it just me or even when u see other professional driving whether it be f1, wrc, or even nascar, the racers seem to sit really close to the steering wheel (even he isnt extremely close in this video as people are in pro quality race cars). Is there a reason for it because i find it uncomfortable to be that close to the steering wheel?

[@FdSnakeEater]

They are the subaru engineers ya fool. Plus the fact that Makkinen gets photos taken all the time when he drives, why would one click of a photo even bother him? He's a professional, not an amateur. And for the record, he wasn't "told" the road was closed. He saw the big truck rig stopped in the middle of the track. He assumed that it might be a road close, but then they radio'd it wasnt. That was when the engineers trailing him caught up, because Makinnen reversed to restart the lap over.

[@ftlvwrx]

@StefanSu91 you can see it has slotted rotors. Plus they stopped using the Gold color brembos since 07 in JP. They only some in black. They look huge compared to a stock STi brembo too.

[@JJsAutomotive]

Black round Pirellis need to be warmed up.

[@mrsides89]

@kurlis if you had a chance to put a lap time down on the nurburgring and then someone handed you a can of spray paint and said in what ever language you want summerize this experince and post your time, would you ? most of the writing is from people leaving there mark on history there words are immortal

[@pizzaernesto]

bellissimo video! amazing car!

[@sh4p31y]

such a beautiful circuit

[@OGSpacely555]

@1englandnigga this car has equal length headers i'm guessing for more power

[@soop0r]

Yes, even length headers. My WRX STI Spec-C sounds like this.

[@slonky821]

Why does this sti sound so good

[@Dragonrend117]

Did anyone else notice that it says the 2011 subaru in the name of the video and the video was uploaded june 9th 2010?

[@dpisaacs]

Gran Turismo on the PS10, GFX are awesome especially in that vintage 2011 car

[@MrShadowofthewind]

Because the last team he drove for was Subaru , because mitsubitshi started using the evo 7 as platform , wich was completely different then earlier models and not as competitive.

[@Galestinian]

i remember looking for the ring on google earth. I was like WTF where is it. Then I zoomed out lol

[@papavalesRS]

the best awd at this category.

[@georgejacob3162]

At 1:51 he should have said 'NOW he tells me there is a truck on the track!'

[@Frozanics]

Why end the video at the start of the long straight at the end =.=

[@worx4evr]

@1englandnigga this spec model has equal length headers. unequal length gives you that rumble.

[@StevenisRadd]

I agree that it doesn't sound stock... but not vtec probably just equal length headers.

[@AffectiontoDetail]

@QaisRAK and knowing how many people have died at the ring let alone crashed, I'm sure he felt he was pushing enough. If you actually listen I think you'll find the tyres are being pushed hard enough and the car enough in the damp conditions something he clearly points out at the start. If you haven't driven there then keep your comments to yourself.

[@egorgeg]

Nice, and yeah, to drive at the Ring' would be epic.

[@SheetFiber]

the way he talking is similar to Raikkonen, love it.

[@OGSpacely555]

@1englandnigga The 2.5L 4 Cyl is still in the STi I just think it might be performance equal length headers or maybe the stock exhaust system silences the exhaust note in the new one not really sure I've never seen one in person.

[@gungaroid]

Tommi hit a cow once in his EVO. No wonder the truck wigged him out a bit!

[@Jeth1093]

Yes it was during the tour de corse 1997 rally on corsica using an evo 4

[@matt24d1]

@SubaruWRXtreme sounds good man, Get a video up of your car I would love to see it when you get it.

[@oldfashionedwrx3574]

could be the audio equipment perhaps. tho this car isn't completely stock few things changed but it isn't a huge different from the stock car no 500hp beasts with giant spoilers off the back haha though you'd be crazy to do this lap in a completely stock car from the factory at least better tires, few aero bits to help braking/corner grip.

[@feAr636]

I wish it had different tail lights, other than that it looks great

[@CarverSTi]

@1englandnigga I think its because the camera's are placed more at the front of the car. But I agree, just not the same old noise. ;\

[@afr126]

@takeharasine are those times average of an amount of tries?

[@jmhm17]

Just me or did the other guys drive up in a stock left hand drive wrx?

[@Deuce133737]

Lines are so steady and at times seems he doesnt even pull all power out of it. Seems very safe lines no risks at all coulda been way faster if he wanted i think.

[@classiccafe1]

good camera angles too bad the track condition was not great and im not happy about the video ending on the straight

[@StefanSu91]

@ftlvwrx The stock STI has Brembo brakes.. I really don't think this one has aftermarket brakes. Or does it?

[@jorgearribatoluca]

@wnnarace I want one too, the good news is that its going to go into production in this late fall.

[@shragonman4119]

I'd love to know what diff setting he had it on

[@BluesSkillz]

smooth driving

[@Barry_the]

He is legend

[@wnnarace]

@QaisRAK this is a prototype so it is very expensive. It would be better for the car not to be pushed to the limit.

[@vege22o]

@1englandnigga stock exhuast is my guess, could be noise db related. its the same engine from last yrs model.

[@BlackSweatAndAidsMix]

concentration of a hawk..tommi is the man

[@mickieg555]

Tommi the legend

[@anaconda6147]

Cold day and wet track? Still good time?

[@thaik56]

Does this car have equal length headers? The engine sounds different than stock.

[@bng2679]

Ii wonder if the car had over heated

[@matt24d1]

@SubaruWRXtreme very nice man you will have to get a vid of it up and PM me the link. You getting the STI or regular WRX?

[@toeboe106]

When Tommi smiles he looks exactly like Kelsey Gramer of "Frasier"

[@Ozkartez]

was that an S10 at the beginning of the vid????

[@stephenkibbons3936]

They are one in the same from the chassis standpoint.

[@sirscorpio1154]

What kind of tires was he runnin

[@N3rdburgring]

@CJAEY u mite b rite nevr got the wheel but the thing is that GT physics and gameplay on the track just couldnt cope with Forza, sure forza hasnt been around as long, but it makes more than an impressive adversary to GT. I reapect both games and still play them but who won VGA's racing game of the year? not GT, but FORZA

[@kurlis]

what's up with the writing on the track?

[@teamlaguna]

NO FULL LAP , Whats up with that ??????

[@hottubeful]

When i m reading these comments, i clearly see that half of you guys don`t even know who`s Tommi Mäkinen....

[@goldenbeardofficial8541]

they think he is Mika Hakkinen haha

[@SolsticeRyosake]

And the Pagani zonda did 7:14 right?

[@rdhr151]

What benefit do equal length headers provide? ty

[@RedSunCZE]

AWESOME Subaru!!!

[@drunkmoons3133]

Really want to watch this but no tach view or in-car camera makes it a bit boring honestly

[@Ixxlostinabox]

You cant be that into Tommi, the Nurburgring or racing in general if you find this boring.

[@CallUrDrop]

I love subaru and sti's, and plan to get one eventually. But this STI in no way was stock.

[@MP-Fin]

Hello comment from 11 years ago. Well did you get one?

[@digitallio]

we’re still waiting 😂😂😂

[@mauriciollorca7915]

time?

[@tommyjakks]

Dream car

[@CKemple]

@1englandnigga the car probably doesn't have the uneven headers in it.... :/

[@joshuarasos7578]

Something I learned about this video. If you will drive like Tommi make sure that the roads are closed.

[@Andrew87890]

thats called equal length headers, the ej25 and 2j20 sound the same stock

[@daved2008]

Now let him do it with a Mitsubishi

[@flaviobbq]

There is no or very little of the typical understeering for this car. I guess it requires specific technics that champ has. It’s all about the driver.

[@gyongah]

@takeharasine Good but not great. Still they're no ZR1 or ACR.

[@TheChrisRain]

no turbocharger?

[@heinrichr]

Was this a EJ207 version?

[@s4ms0n1t3]

Sounds like it

[@EvoX__lord78]

which exhaust is using this CAR?

[@Tony-1971]

Uhhhh....you do know the saying, "there's a time and a place" They were pricks!. Makkinen was thinking, "I am surrounded by idiots!". And he was correct.

[@afr126]

i love this track. its my favorite track, my dream is to go on the autobahn then on this track :D

[@ivanzu2069]

It's been 10 years since this comment...have your dreams come true?

[@IceWaterInc]

can't wait until the sedan is available in showrooms

[@thaik56]

What year and gen is your STi?

[@jtet420]

subaru vs mitsubishi was the greatest, after group b rallying of course...