Scott Speed in a Subaru WRX: Project Midnight Set the Mount Washington Record
Subaru Motorsports USA driver Scott Speed set a new overall record on the Mount Washington Auto Road, completing the full 7.6-mile course in 5 minutes and 11.982 seconds in a Subaru WRX: Project Midnight. This result earned him victory at the 2026 Paul Giblin Memorial Climb to the Clouds, according to Motor1.
The previous record was held by Travis Pastrana: in 2021, he clocked a time of 5 minutes and 28.67 seconds in an 862-horsepower Airslayer STI. According to Subaru Motorsports USA, Speed improved on that time by 16.688 seconds. Pastrana’s run took place on a mixed-surface track, whereas the road is now fully paved.
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Preparations for the start were complicated by thick fog at the top of the mountain. On Friday and Saturday, the teams practiced on half the course. On Sunday, the organizers shortened the morning run due to weather conditions, leaving only one opportunity for a full run in the afternoon. For Speed, this was his first full run up the entire course over the weekend.
The Subaru WRX: Project Midnight was built by Vermont SportsCar. The WRX-based race car features a lightweight design, advanced aerodynamics, and a SUBARU BOXER engine. For the record-breaking run, Speed chose Yokohama ADVAN A005 slick tires, designed to quickly achieve maximum grip over a short asphalt distance.
