1,350-HP JDM Drag Race: Subaru WRX STI Vs. Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8

Aug. 09, 2023 9:16 AM ET by Cesar Miguel Video / 1 Comment

These cars are monsters, but one is definitely quicker.

The Subaru WRX STI and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution rivalry is classic - maybe as epic as the legendary feud between Ferrari and Lamborghini. When two tuned examples of these rivals go head-to-head in a drag race, JDM fans take notice. And thanks to Officially Gassed we have one heck of a matchup for fans to get their teeth into.

These two all-wheel-drive, rally-derived cars are real monsters with more power than a stock Nissan GT-R Nismo. Both cars have plenty of modifications that are period correct from their release. That's 2003 for the Lancer Evo 8 and the Impreza WRX STI.

The Lancer Evo 8 here uses a fully built 2.0-liter 4G36 with a 57-mm turbo kit. It also has an aftermarket transfer case and front differential, a mapped flex-fuel capable ECU, and a drag gear set manual gearbox. The owner says it can make about 650 horsepower, though he hasn't put it on a dyno yet.

The Impreza WRX STI, meanwhile, is propelled by a 2.3-liter EJ22 boxer engine with a 62-mm Garret turbo. It also has ported heads, stage 2 cams, and an aftermarket valvetrain kit. It then uses its stock manual gearbox. The owner says it makes 705 hp as determined by a dyno.

On the first one-eight-mile rolling race, the Evo 8 was consistently outrunning the WRX STI. With the race organizers' recorded run times from 62 mph to 129 mph, the Subie had an average of 7.18 seconds, while the Evo was slightly more rapid at 5.51 seconds.

The story went down the same way for the quarter-mile drag races. Both were quick, but the Evo 8 had more go juice than the Subie. Based on the data, the Lancer Evo 8 managed a quarter-mile time of 10.93 seconds. The Impreza, meanwhile, managed an average of 11.57 seconds.

There are, however, some factors to consider in this race. For one thing, the Mitsubishi might have an advantage due to its drag-spec gearbox. There's also the possibility that it has more power than the owner lets on.

Regardless of the results, it's always fun to see modded Japanese cars driven like this. It showcases the builders' talent and points a spotlight on the bygone 2000s JDM boom era of the automotive industry.

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Tags: #Subaru News #JDM #Tuning #Video

Cesar Miguel

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