Following the success at the Isle Of Man TT circuit, together with Subaru, we identified another record-breaking opportunity for the WRX STI. This time we set our sights on a new lap record of the famous Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit. Almost every manufacturer in the world goes to the Nordschleife to set a lap time to demonstrate the performance of their cars. It has become the vanguard by which all cars are measured.

Our lap simulation tools calculated that a sub-seven-minute lap was achievable. Our Nürburgring specialist driver, Richie Stanaway, lapped in just 6 minutes 57.5 seconds, a new record for a four door saloon.

That is how Top Gear described the Transfăgărășan Highway. The 52.2 miles of road winds its way up 6,699ft and over the 8,000ft pass in the Carpathian mountains in Romania taking in 688 turns and hairpin bends. No one had tackled the route before – it was too good an opportunity to miss.

We arranged with the government to close the whole public road for three days. We organised 120 marshalls; 12 ambulances and safety cars; and a helicopter to carry an emergency crew; and of course to film the whole event. A blistering 40m 58.08secs was set across when the clock finaly stopped on th final attempt.