Subaru’s Project Midnight made quite the impression at the Goodwood Festival of Speed hill climb. In a sea of advertisement-laden race cars, the all-black livery of the Subaru WRX stood out, showcasing its unique design and distinguishing it as the mightiest and most eye-catching of all Subaru WRXs. The decision to go with the murdered-out approach was a smart one, attracting a constant crowd throughout the festival.
Although Project Midnight was primarily created to achieve the fastest time up the Duke of Richmond’s driveway, the McMurtry Speirling’s record time made it impossible to beat. Still, the Subaru team, led by Scott Speed, gave it their all to secure a respectable 45.15-second time. However, a slight issue with braking caused Speed to lose valuable speed heading into the tricky corner known as Molecomb, resulting in a slower time of 46.07 seconds. Despite this setback, Project Midnight still managed to secure second place.
Underneath its striking exterior, Project Midnight boasts impressive performance upgrades derived from Subaru Motorsports’ rallycross car. Its 2.0-liter boxer four-cylinder turbocharged engine produces around 670 horsepower and 680 pound-feet of torque, revving up to an astonishing 9,500 RPM. The engine’s block and cylinder strength were increased while maximizing airflow. The car features a six-speed sequential gearbox and a turbocharger with a large intercooler to handle the increased boost.
One interesting feature of Project Midnight is its cooling system. Due to the short run of the hill climb, there’s limited space for cooling the intercooler and radiator from the front. To overcome this, large holes were cut into the carbon fiber door panels, allowing air to flow into a rear-mounted ducted radiator. This decision ensured optimal cooling during each run.
The exhaust system of Project Midnight is positioned at the front, belching flames out of the hood. This design reduces exhaust travel, resulting in increased power and a weight reduction of 26 pounds. Additionally, the car features an expansive front splitter, wide aerodynamic bodywork, and an enlarged wing derived from Subaru Motorsports’ rally car.
The suspension of Project Midnight was modified for racing on the Goodwood hill climb. The brakes, provided by Alcon, consist of 350 mm front discs and 320 mm rear discs, paired with Endless brake pads. The car’s custom steering rack has an 11:1 ratio and a high-flow power steering pump. Speed noted that the car felt twitchy in early runs, requiring greater straight-line stability for future improvements.
Inside the car, every component has been upgraded from the stock WRX interior to accommodate the mid-engine placement. The boxer engine’s positioning contributes to the blocky tunnel in the interior.
Project Midnight may not have achieved its ultimate goal of beating the McMurtry Speirling’s record time, but it still made a lasting impression. Subaru’s commitment to pushing boundaries and showcasing their engineering prowess is evident in this striking and powerful vehicle. With additional learnings from this experience, Subaru may come back to the Goodwood Festival of Speed with an even more impressive iteration of Project Midnight in the future.