The 2024 Velocity Invitational at Sonoma Raceway saw an electrifying weekend of racing, with Subaru Motorsports USA’s “Project Midnight” making a dominating American debut. The quickest and fastest WRX ever from Subaru clinched victories in both the Global Time Attack and Hill Climb competitions, further cementing its place in motorsport history. First unveiled at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July, Project Midnight impressed once again, setting the fastest Shootout time for an internal combustion engine vehicle and narrowly missing the overall Shootout title with a second-place finish.
Project Midnight Triumphs in Global Time Attack and Hill Climb
At the Velocity Hill Climb, driver Scott Speed faced off against racing legends, including Romain Grosjean in a Ford GT MKIV and Tony Kanaan piloting a McLaren Senna. With a nail-biting finish, Project Midnight came out on top, defeating the second-place Ford by just under half a second. Speed’s mastery didn’t end there—he dominated the Global Time Attack, posting a winning lap time of 1:29.856 on the 2.52-mile Road Course. His victory left competitors like James Kirkham’s Mercedes AMG GT3 “Raw Spec” and Cable Rosenberg’s 9-liter, 1300-horsepower Dodge Viper trailing behind.
Reflecting on his success, Scott Speed said, “We were able to break into the 1:29’s, which is pretty cool. The track was awesome this morning, and we executed super well. A successful Velocity Invitational for us.”
Travis Pastrana Thrills Crowds with the Family Huckster
While Project Midnight stole the show on the track, extreme sports icon and Subaru Motorsports USA driver Travis Pastrana was on hand to entertain crowds with his high-octane Gymkhana stunts in the Subaru Family Huckster. This custom-built 862-horsepower, 1983 Subaru GL wagon has become a fan favorite, and Pastrana didn’t disappoint, offering high-speed rides to brave attendees. Among his passengers were racing stars Tony Kanaan and JR Hildebrand, making the experience even more special.
“I didn’t know that taking Tony Kanaan for a drive in the Huckster was even an option for my bucket list,” Pastrana joked. “But it’s really high on the list of awesome things that I’ve had the opportunity to experience.”
Looking Ahead
After a thrilling weekend at Sonoma, Pastrana heads straight to Michigan for the Lake Superior Performance Rally, the final round of the 2024 ARA National Championship. As Subaru Motorsports USA continues to push the limits of innovation and performance, fans eagerly await what’s next in the world of motorsports.
Source: Subaru
This article was crafted with assistance from Chatgpt
