Subaru reveals Gymkhana 2020 with Travis Pastrana and a custom built WRX STI

Subaru of America has launched its long-awaited return to the Gymkhana video franchise in partnership with Hoonigan, with Subaru Motorsports U.S.A rally and rallycross star Travis Pastrana taking over the series from creator and rival Ken Block.

Set in Pastrana's hometown of Annapolis, Maryland, Gymkhana 2020 takes the series in a high-flying new direction and stars an 850bhp one-off WRX STI built by Subaru exclusively for the film. Along with the big slides and tyre destruction that are typical of the Gymkhana franchise, Pastrana's signature style and action sports background mean this instalment features bigger jumps - and more raw speed - than any before it.

With a mission to execute stunts unlike any seen in Gymkhana before, Pastrana's STI was purpose-built by Subaru Motorsports USA and technical partner Vermont SportsCar drawing on the brand's experience in rally, rallycross, hillclimbs and long-distance jumps.

Starting from a production Subaru shell, the car was fully caged and lightened to just 1,190kg - over 363kg lighter than a stock STI - giving it a power-to-weight ratio of 1.4kg/bhp.

The wild-looking carbon fibre body panels were validated in the wind tunnel - a first for a Gymkhana build - to ensure stability in the air and generate maximum downforce on the ground, especially for the video's high-speed road sequence. A DRS-style (drag reduction system) active rear wing allowed Pastrana to adjust the car's attitude in midair for the video's groundbreaking jump stunts.

Power comes from a motorsport-spec boxer engine displacing 2.3-litres and using a custom billet block and heads derived from the team's rallycross program. The long-travel suspension, built with a huge range of adjustability to execute high-speed jump takeoffs and landings as well as super-precise proximity drifts, draws on decades of Subaru success in rally.