Photograph taken by Blackett Photography.

ZEN Impreza in 2006

In 2006 the ZEN Subaru Impreza WRX RA achieved fantastic results and was consistenly one of the fastest Impreza's in the UK.

The first of event of the season for ZEN was Jap Show at Santa Pod in June. The car was finished the night before the event and so it was all about testing rather than winning. The car put in it's fastest performance yet, with a 10.3 second 1/4 mile and was second fastest qualifier on the day. ZEN were knocked out in the quarter final due to a mechanical failure. Full report here.

In July the car underwent substantial testing, culminating in a string of 9 second drag runs at Santa Pod. At this point in the year, there was only one Subaru in the UK running faster.

At the end of July at TOTBV the ZEN RA put in another stonking performance, being placed 6th overall out of 100 or so competing - an impressive a 3-place improvement on last year. The 9.89s drag run was good enough for 4th overall in this discipline, as well as 4th in the 4wd class. The car's highest recorded top speed on the day was 186.5mph, placing 6th in the 4wd class and 9th overall, and the best handling time was 40.80s for a respectable 18th place overall. Paul picked up a trophy from Aquamist as the fastest 1/4mile car on the day running their water injection system.

Throughout the Summer ZEN competed in the new Time Attack series, visiting Silverstone, Knockhill and Donington. Circuit performance is a new venture for ZEN and so the year was spent learning, refining, testing and yet more learning. By the end of the year the ZEN RA was shaping up to be a serious track car.

In early September ZEN visited Elvington for drag testing and  surpassed all previous time with a 9.63s 1/4 mile, making the ZEN Impreza the second fastest Subaru in Europe and the 6th fastest street legal 4wd drive car in the UK.

In October the last drag racing of the season takes place at Jap Show Finale, Santa Pod. ZEN pulled a fantastic 9.79s 1/4 mile sprint but was knocked out at the semi-final stage. Full report here.

For more detailed information please click on the links below:

* Stats

* Videos

* Spec

Stats 

9.63s 1/4 mile pass @ 154mph

Elvington Airfield, 10th September 2006

9.84s 1/4 mile pass @ 146mph

Santa Pod, 14th July 2006

9.89s 1/4 mile pass @ 143mph

TOTBV, 30th July 2006

186.5mph top speed

TOTBV, 30th July 2006

40.80s handling lap time

TOTBV, 30th July 2006

57.54s lap of Knockhill Circuit

Time Attack, 1st July 2006

Videos:

TOTBV Handling Lap, In-Car Footage

(8.94mb)

Video by ScoobyDuck

 TOTBV 9.89s run / 186.5mph top speed, In-Car Footage

(14mb)

Video by ScoobyDuck

TOTBV 9.89s run, External Footage

(4.41mb)

Video by Stevie Turbo

Spec List for ZEN Impreza

ENGINE (2.35 Capacity)

EJ22 Closed Deck Block

EJ25 79mm stroke crankshaft

97.5mm bore with Wiseco Pistons

Pauter Con-rods

ACL race series bearings

1mm steel head gaskets

Ported V5 heads

Kent ZEN Performance spec camshafts

Supertech one piece inlet valves

Supertech inconel exhaust valves

Supertech valve springs

ZEN Performance retainers

Sti 5 cam followers

Kent Cams adjustable cam pulleys

V1 & 2 modified inlet manifold

PWR chargecooler with custom pipework

ZEN spec chargecooler rad

ZEN spec water radiator

ZEN modified injectors

ZEN hardpipe fuel rails front to rear

Walbro in tank pump feeding swirl pot

Twin Bosch fuel pumps in custom housing

Garrett GT40R Turbo on custom manifold

Twin 38mm Turbosmart Wastegate with custom pipework

Custom ZEN Spec exhaust

100mm inlet with K&N filter

Nitrous Oxide system

Autronic ECU

GEARBOX

5 Speed PPG dog box

Billet selector forks

Exedy Twin Plate Clutch & Integral flywheel

Quaife front Diff

DCCD centre diff

R180 Plated limited slip rear diff

ZEN performance uprated rear driveshafts

Powerflex Uprated bushes

CHASSIS

EXE-tc WR04 coilovers

Camber/Castor adjustable top mounts

Whiteline front and rear anti roll bars

Uprated drop links

Powerflex bushes

Fully seam welded chassis

Custom Cages full FIA spec cage

BRAKING

Stoptech 330mm x 28mm discs with four pot callipers

Subaru 2 pot rear callipers

Stoptech braided brake lines

Millers brake fluid

7 x 17in Mim alloys

Dunlop D01-J tyres

7.5 x 17in Rota 'Torque' rims

Toyo R888 tyres

INTERIOR

Border Motorsport composite seats

Sabelt FIA harnesses

Lifeline Pro fire extinguisher

Electrical cut off internally and externally

Custom mount gauge install

Innovate permanent wideband with display

Momo steering wheel with quick release hub

All dash panels flocked

Heated front windscreen

Custom modified wiring loom

EXTERIOR

Lightweight fibreglass doors

Aerocatch system on bonnet and boot

Buddy Club carbon 'Racing Spec' GT Wing

V4 headlights

Custom front towing eye

SJS design vinyl kit