Riding shotgun, Pastrana-style | PH Footnote
There are many ways to experience the FOS rally stage - here's the best one...
Back in 1995, I passed my driving test. To celebrate, I took a road trip with some mates to Chatsworth House in a chilly November, all to watch the RAC Rally. The main draw? The L555BAT-plated Subaru Impreza 555 - one of my all-time favourite rally cars. Subaru earned a place in my heart for its commitment to hiring flamboyant, flat-out drivers from McRae to Solberg. When Subaru bowed out of the WRC in 2008, they retreated into a world of SUVs, still around, but quietly humming away in the background.
But in the USA, it’s a different story. There, Subaru’s rallying fire was rekindled with the launch of the 2024 Subaru Motorsports WRX Rally car. And leading the charge? None other than Travis Pastrana, a man mentored by Subaru legends like McRae and Burns, and very much cut from the same cloth. So when someone at the Goodwood Festival of Speed asked if I fancied a ride in the navigator’s seat next to Travis on the rally stage, there was only one possible answer. With 320 wild horses waiting under the bonnet, nothing was going to stop me.
Travis is the definition of a hard-working professional. Starting in dirt bikes, he’s made his name pulling stunts that defy logic - and sometimes gravity. His skeletal x-ray would probably show equal parts bone and metal. In 2006, he was the first person to land a double backflip on a motocross bike at the X Games - six years after being the first to attempt one. He’s botched base jumps, flipped just about every wheeled machine imaginable, and is currently trying to 360 a car. Crashes? Occupational hazard.
Despite this, he’s disarmingly likeable. Humble, upbeat, and endlessly chatty. “I’m a good 10th-place NASCAR driver,” he jokes when I ask about his stint there. “I have to work hard on pavement, especially in rally cars.” The marshals lining us up clearly rate him higher. They all agreed he was the best driver of the weekend. Travis returned the praise with a grin, nudging the car playfully towards the line: “These guys have been great all weekend.”
We pull up to the start. Revs build. Travis offers a fist bump… and we’re off - plunging into the shaded woodland stage. “It’s so slippy in here,” he says, as we dive from the sunlit hilltop into the trees. “I’ve never driven on anything quite like this before.” But you wouldn’t know it. We flick through the course with effortless rhythm, handbrake flicks, footwork straight out of a ballet, and a constant narration from Travis: “This bit’s got a little rut on the inside - stops me getting the back out fully,” then into a fast section, “I love this bit - flat out, but clip that inside line and we’re rolling.” Somehow, I’m completely at ease.
The sound, the speed, the scenery whipping past - it’s visceral. Then we emerge into daylight for a hairpin around a barrel. “Jump on the horn for the fans, it’s by your foot,” he says, ever the showman. He wants everyone to enjoy it. He’s here to entertain.
Moments later, we’re sliding sideways out of a 90-right and it’s over almost too soon. “How hard were you pushing?” I ask him. In typical Pastrana fashion, he shrugs it off: “More sideways than I should be, makes it more fun through here. An F1 driver would probably be quicker - smoother, better grip. But hey, that’s not the point.”
Exactly. That’s the essence of Travis and of Subaru at its best. Not chasing the stopwatch, but chasing the thrill. Making people fall in love with rallying again. It’s why, 30 years ago, I drove hundreds of miles to see McRae in that iconic blue Subaru. And why, today, I’d do it all again.
Colin McRae 2 UK championships & then youngest WRC champion & multiple manufacturers championships.
Travis Pastrana - 3 backwater US rally championship titles. When was the last US WRC champion?
"Travis Pastrana, a man mentored by Subaru legends like McRae and Burns, and very much cut from the same cloth"
Not even close & the mentoring comment is so lame.
He is to MotoGP what bagger racing is.
What is it with millennials and their fawning to Muricans. He is a half decent stunt driver & not even as good as Ken Block who at least took part in 24 WRC rallies
Cool write-up, and impressive that TP can keep up a running commentary while driving.
One of my brothers runs Williams Heritage and had a few long chats with TP at FOS when Williams were running Sebs Red no5 for Seb. TP said the cars were less painful to which my brother said, thats because you keep to mad stuff on the bikes. My brother said he was a great guy, really interested in Red no5 and enthusiastic and happy to chat, and unlike many people nowadays he actually asked my brother his background.
Colin McRae 2 UK championships & then youngest WRC champion & multiple manufacturers championships.
Travis Pastrana - 3 backwater US rally championship titles. When was the last US WRC champion?
"Travis Pastrana, a man mentored by Subaru legends like McRae and Burns, and very much cut from the same cloth"
Not even close & the mentoring comment is so lame.
He is to MotoGP what bagger racing is.
What is it with millennials and their fawning to Muricans. He is a half decent stunt driver & not even as good as Ken Block who at least took part in 24 WRC rallies
Yes, he isn't the best rally driver but he's still damn good and one who will showboat for the crowds, clearly got big kahuna's as his rally crashes are nothing but McRae like.
I've been a fan from seeing him on the Crusty demons of dirt videos back in the day and all through his X-Games wins on 2 wheels and 4, plus his Nitro Circus which still exists, tours and gets bigger every year. Pastranaland is something I'd love to visit but I'd expect an invite is needed. He continues to give so much back to 2 and 4 wheeled sports and is always ALWAYS positive.
With all the crap that is going on, we need more Travis's in the world.
Colin McRae 2 UK championships & then youngest WRC champion & multiple manufacturers championships.
Travis Pastrana - 3 backwater US rally championship titles. When was the last US WRC champion?
"Travis Pastrana, a man mentored by Subaru legends like McRae and Burns, and very much cut from the same cloth"
Not even close & the mentoring comment is so lame.
He is to MotoGP what bagger racing is.
What is it with millennials and their fawning to Muricans. He is a half decent stunt driver & not even as good as Ken Block who at least took part in 24 WRC rallies
He was still fun to watch at Goodwood though...
I'd count trying to spin a car 360 degrees mid air and land it pretty defying which seems to be his current goal.
Many years ago jumping a dirtbike was outrageous, then one handed jumps, can cans, no hander landers, superman seat grabs all became the norm, then Carey Hart landed the first "official" backflip in 2000 which rewrote the rulebook. Then 6 years later Pastrana landed the first double backflip.
Rallying isn't a controlled environment in any way shape or form, Travis is clearly talented but he's not at WRC level, but he's prepared to push like hell and accepts a certain level of risk, so far he's still alive and well although I think he recently had a hip replacement.
I'd count trying to spin a car 360 degrees mid air and land it pretty defying which seems to be his current goal.
I really like him. Seems a nice guy and a great driver, but folk are laying it on a bit thick.
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