Gymkhana Returns With Pastrana Piloting ‘Unhinged’ 9,500-rpm Subaru BRAT
Gymkhana’s back! Well, nearly. Hoonigan reveals the latest weapon for the 13th instalment at SEMA Show as Travis Pastrana returns behind the wheel – this time with a 670-horsepower Subaru ‘Brataroo.’
Billed by Hoonigan as “the wildest Gymkhana film to date”, the Subaru Brataroo 9500 Turbo heads to Australia for the next video, Aussie Shred, premiering next month.
The original ute, once a quirky, little-known 1978 Subaru BRAT, is the third Subaru Pastrana has showcased in the Gymkhana franchise, and Hoonigan will show it off at this year’s SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
Developed by Subaru of America in collaboration with rally specialists Vermont SportsCar (VSC), the carbon-clad Brataroo is built to WRC safety standards. What was a ‘fun car’ in its heyday has been transformed with a fully custom build, bumping its original 73 hp to nearly ten times that.
Sadly, it doesn’t look like they kept one of the craziest OEM touches from the original BRAT that many of you might not know – rear-facing bed seats. They would make for one helluva Gymkhana passenger ride!
Pastrana will undoubtedly be using the full potential of the turbocharged 2.0-liter flat-four’s 670 hp and 680 lb-ft of torque, routed through a six-speed SADEV sequential to a motorsport-grade all-wheel-drive system. With a redline north of 9,500 rpm, Hoonigan says it’s the “highest-revving Gymkhana car to date.”
“This BRAT’s completely unhinged – in the best way possible,” said Pastrana. “It’s got the soul of a vintage Subaru with the tech to do things no Gymkhana car has ever done. Every part of it is designed to take abuse, fly big, and come back for more. It’s hands down the craziest Gymkhana car we’ve ever built.”
As you probably guessed, there’s little left of the humble BRAT as we know it, and the bodywork is now entirely carbon fiber to keep the weight down.
Renowned designer and concept artist Khyzyl Saleem (The Kyza) made the most of the brief, crafting a unique yet functional custom aero widebody.
The retro vibe and 70s Subaru branding nod to Ryan Tuerck’s early ‘retaks’ livery, with plenty of modern aggression thrown in.
They’ve gone to town on the aero, too. The front fenders feature fully adjustable active aero louvers that should help blast clean air through the smoke pouring off the front tires.
Out back, the Brataroo runs interchangeable rear wings, a larger one for high-speed downforce and a smaller one for everything else.
Underneath, custom four-spoke forged monoblock KMC wheels complete the 70s vibe, designed as an homage to rally’s golden era.
There’s not long to wait until you get to see the Brataroo being pushed to its limits. The next Gymkhana film, Aussie Shred, is set to premiere on the Hoonigan YouTube channel in early December.
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Bill is a writer and photographer who has been part of the Drifted team since 2015. His work extends to various print and online publications, including Wangan Warriors.
As part of the King of Nations team, he traveled extensively for several years, capturing top-tier international drift events worldwide. His hands-on experience, including rebuilding his own Nissan Silvia S15 drift car, gives him unique insights into drift car building and global drift culture.
When not behind the lens or keyboard, Bill can be found browsing classifieds for his next JDM project or shredding virtual tires on popular simulators like Assetto Corsa, CarX, and Forza.
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