Video: 850-HP Gymkhana WRX STI vs. 1,300-HP Nissan Altima

The Hoonigan crew has posted another video on YouTube dedicated to a drag race between a clinically insane Subaru WRX STI build starring in the latest Gymkhana episode and a similarly unhinged Nissan Altima swapped to GT-R power.

Starting with the first ride, it was a collaboration between Subaru and tuning company Vermont Sportcars. The team bored the flat-four engine to 2.3 liters and boosted it to 862 PS (850 hp / 634 kW). Other notable improvements included suspension and body kit.

Going up against Travis Pastrana and his Subaru was Chris Forsberg behind the wheel of his Nissan “Altimaniac” Altima. The sedan runs on a GT-R engine expanded from 3.8 to 4.1 liters and cranked up to around 2,000 horsepower (1,500 kilowatts). The power was capped at 1,300 hp (969 kW) for the race.

On paper, the Altima certainly has the power advantage over its rival, but it also weighs in at 1,437 kg (3,168 lbs), while the Subaru is much lighter at 1,190 kg (2,623 lbs). Perhaps more importantly, the Subaru has AWD, while the Nissan makes do with RWD. Both use six-speed sequential gearboxes.

In the end, having four driven wheels decided the outcome, although the Altima did score a victory in a bonus running-start race for 1,000 feet (304 meters).