Sam Albert is continuing his mission to use a Ferrari V8 in his Subaru Rally Car. Now, we’re getting the first videos of the shakedown process and a little insight into what’s next. Stop what you’re doing and listen to eight Italian cylinders kicking up some rocks.
We told you a few weeks back about how and why Albert pursued this rarified powertrain as opposed to something more conventional. The naturally aspirated F136 IB V8 that he’s using skirts regulations, provides smoother power delivery, and carries that power to redline. It certainly doesn’t hurt that it sounds amazing too.
In his last update, Albert was in the process of dyno-tuning the car. He ran into some issues like breaking his driveshaft and having to remove his headers but this film proves that things ended up just fine. Albert tested the car at DirtFish rally school and got some great clips along the way.
More: This Subaru WRX STI With A Ferrari V8 Is The Rally Car We Didn’t Know We Needed
Hearing a Ferrari V8 wail away on a dirt surface like that is a melding of two great facets of motorsport. Still, it isn’t just a crazy build for the sake of a crazy build. This rally car is going to compete and it’s probably more functional than most would realize. For example, the launch control feature still works.
Albert hasn’t said what, if any, other changes might be on the way in the future but we do know that he’s in the process of dialing in the details. He’ll dial in the launch control and the flat shift tuning before taking the car to what’ll likely be its first sanctioned event on April 22nd. That’s the date of the Olympus Rally in Shelton, Washington.
We’ll continue to follow the progress as this wild racer comes today. Hopefully, it’ll continue a long tradition of success in motorsport for Ferrari and Subaru. Only this time, it would be together.
Image Credit: Sam Albert