092: Subaru WRX Rally Car… Powered by Ferrari?!?

You might not know the name, but you’ve probably seen Sam Albert’s Subaru WRX online. Powered by a screaming 4.3-litre Ferrari V8, Sam’s flame-spitting AWD rally car is fast, it’s cool, and it sounds amazing … But why go to all that trouble when Subaru’s own EJ drivetrain — the one that this car uses from the factory — has proven itself a capable championship-winning setup since the late eighties?

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Use “SAMALBERT50” to get 50% OFF our HPA Race Driving Fundamentals course: hpcdmy.co/driverb

This episode of Tuned In kicks off with a look into Sam’s history with cars and rallying — something he first competed in back in 2010. He’s also spent time as a driving instructor for DirtFish, so we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to discuss driving techniques like weight transfer, left-foot braking, handbrake turns, and much more. Sam also gives us some key tips on how someone new to the sport of rally is best to get into it and start building their first race car.

We then get to the meat and potatoes of the episode, as Sam gives us a full rundown of his incredible Ferrari-powered NA-AWD class build. This conversation covers all aspects — starting with why he decided to go down this route — with a car he bought off the lot brand new, no less — in the first place. Sam then discusses what led him to the Ferrari V8, how he worked around the rule book to build something unique, as well as the many challenges that came with fitting a motor like this into his Subaru shell.

It’s important to note that Sam doesn’t actually work in the automotive industry as a professional but instead learnt how to do things himself, including using HPA’s courses to learn how to wire his car. He’s also learning 3D modelling in order to design one-off parts for the Subaru — something that comes in handy for a one-off project like this.

With some informative conversations covering tuning around inlet restrictors, the pros and cons of other engines that were also considered, as well as a great explanation of what the car is like to drive and what gives it an edge, there’s a whole lot of interesting topics to dive into in this episode.

Don’t forget, Use “SAMALBERT50” to get 50% OFF our HPA Race Driving Fundamentals course: hpcdmy.co/driverb

Follow Sam here:
IG: @samalbertrally
FB: Sam Albert Rally
YT: Sam Albert Rally
WWW: samalbertrally.com