Subaru Builds the World’s Coolest Bobsleds

Mark Higgins drives his WRX STI down an Olympic bobsled run in Saint Moritz.

This may be the single coolest publicity stunt a manufacturer has ever committed. Subaru took Mark Higgins’ old Isle of Man TT course record-setter, the WRX STI from 2014, and lightly modified it. Now it can slam, slide, jump, and bump its way down an Olympic specification bobsled run. If you’ve ever needed a video to get your heart-rate pounding, look no further. Mark is a maniacal driver, and he’s already proven that beyond the shadow of a doubt. But this ice canyon stunt is a whole ‘nother level of crazy.

The onboard video of this run is reminiscent of Luke Skywalker’s trench run in the Battle of Yavin. There’s walls on either side, and not much room in between. Higgins, in a quest for more speed, bounces his car all over the place. In violent fashion, the Subaru smashes one headlight. Then it essentially drives on its side coming out of one of the banked corners. And the rear wing’s endplates take a beating on the snow.

CHECK OUT: What Forum Members Are Saying About This Amazing Run

There doesn’t appear to be one panel on this car that makes it to the bottom of the hill unscathed. Even with special pucks and sliders fitted to the car’s extremities, the car looks far worse for wear at the bottom than it did up top. Even the roof receives a foot-long dent above the passenger door.

This appears to have been an incredibly well-organized event. It took Subaru over three months to put it all together. While Higgins didn’t get the opportunity to run the full bobsled run, due to a bridge abutment too narrow for the car to fit through, we remain altogether amazed at his (and Subaru’s) utter commitment to the project.