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The popular Gymkhana YouTube film franchise is returning later this year, featuring an all-new purpose-built Subaru BRAT, that was unveiled at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
Developed by Subaru Motorsports USA and long-time factory racing collaborator Vermont SportsCar, the car – dubbed the Subaru Brataroo 9500 Turbo – is the third Gymkhana vehicle from the collaboration following the WRX STI "Airslayer" and the GL "Family Huckster."
It will once again be driven by Travis Pastrana, who took over from Gymkhana pioneer Ken Block in 2020, after 24-time World Rally Championship entrant's 10 main series installments, and before his untimely passing in 2023.
“This BRAT’s completely unhinged – in the best way possible,” said Pastrana. “It’s got the soul of a vintage Subaru with the tech to do things no Gymkhana car has ever done.
“Every part of it is designed to take abuse, fly big, and come back for more. It’s hands down the craziest Gymkhana car we’ve ever built.”
Inspired by the 1978 BRAT pickup, the Brataroo 9500 Turbo features a rallycross-derived turbocharged four-cylinder Boxer engine, naturally, putting out 670 horsepower, 680 lb-ft of torque, and a redline of 9.500 rpm, making it the highest-revving car from the long-running Gymkhana series to-date, outdoing Ken Block's Hoonicorn V2 Ford Mustang by 1,500 RPM.
That performance is delivered to the road through a six-speed sequential transmission developed by SADEV, motorsport-grade differentials, and an all-wheel-drive system.
On all four corners are specially-designed 18-inch four-spoke monoblock KMC Wheels paying tribute to 1970s rallying, wrapped in Yokohama ADVAN A052 or Apex tires depending on the scenario and surface.
The body is a freshly built carbon fiber one, re-imagined by renowned designer and concept artist Khyzyl Saleem (The Kyza) that adds a motorsport-inspired widebody look to the iconic BRAT design. That body sits over a Vermont SportsCar engineered chassis and roll cage that meets the latest WRC safety standards, and comes wrapped in a retro- and Australia-inspired design, nods to both the original BRAT and the next Gymkhana film's setting.
Like the Airslayer and the Family Huckster, active aerodynamics feature heavily on the Brataroo 9500 Turbo. They're the most advanced active aero elements on a Gymkhana car so far, allowing real-time control of the car's front-end balance either while the car is on the ground, or flying over jumps.
At the front, louvers can pivot forwards or backwards to fine-tune the car's attitude in flight, while at the rear, there are two interchangeable rear wings for downforce during high speeds, or a lower-downforce approach for more spectacular maneuvers. Both are adjustable, with the larger wing being able to extend upwards, increasing in width as it does so to increase aerodynamic stability.
The active aero elements are controlled from the interior by what was the original BRAT’s HVAC controls.
That interior is trimmed with swathes of carbon fiber, complimented by flax composite "wood grain" accents mirroring the original BRAT's interior. An original radio is present, too – much like how the Family Huckster featured a 1980s tape deck – and there's even a period correct CB radio in there as well.
The Brataroo 9500 Turbo will feature in the next Gymkhana film, Aussie Shred, which premieres in early December. A teaser video of Aussie Shred has already been shared on social media, with the car being seen in action in Sydney as well as the Australian Outback, and featuring a cameo appearance by Australian action sports athlete Ryan Williams, a long-time member of Pastrana's Nitro Circus ensemble.
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gymkhana
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Dominik often jokes that he was born in the wrong country – a lover of NASCAR and IndyCar, he covered both in a past life as a junior at Autosport in the UK, but he’s spent most of his career to date covering the sliding and flying antics of the U.S.’ interpretation of rallycross. Rather fitting for a man that says he likes “seeing cars do what they’re not supposed to do”, previously worked for a car stunt show, and once even rolled a rally car with Travis Pastrana. He was also comprehensively beaten in a kart race by Sebastien Loeb once, but who hasn’t been?
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