Gymkhana Returns: Travis Pastrana Takes Flight in Australia with the New Subaru Brataroo 9500 Turbo
The internet’s wildest tyre-smoking, jump-filled spectacle is back, and this time it’s bigger, louder and more unhinged than ever. Subaru and Hoonigan have revealed their latest creation at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas — the Subaru Brataroo 9500 Turbo, built expressly for the next Gymkhana film. Behind the wheel once again is Travis Pastrana, who promises to “break more, fly higher and drift further than ever before” as the series heads to Australia, the birthplace of the word hoon.
The Brataroo is a radical reimagining of the 1978 Subaru BRAT, purpose-built for cinematic abuse. Power comes from a 2.0-litre turbocharged boxer engine producing 670 hp and 680 Nm of torque, revving to an ear-splitting 9500 rpm — a record for any Gymkhana car. The power runs through an all-wheel-drive system and a six-speed SADEV sequential gearbox borrowed from rallycross.
Its carbon-fibre body hides a Vermont SportsCar chassis and FIA-spec WRC roll cage. The design, by digital artist Khyzyl “The Kyza” Saleem, gives the BRAT a wide, aggressive stance while retaining its retro soul. The paint scheme pays tribute to Australian sunsets and features a cheeky graphic of a kangaroo throwing Pastrana’s signature pose.
Active aerodynamics play a starring role. The front fender flaps adjust automatically depending on speed and jump angle, balancing the car mid-air and on landing. The rear wing comes in two flavours: a large, high-downforce version for stability at speed, and a smaller drift wing for scenes where smoke takes priority over grip. The larger spoiler extends upward as the car lifts off, increasing surface area and control — a trick borrowed straight from aerospace engineering.
The Brataroo rides on 18-inch forged KMC wheels inspired by 1970s rally design, wrapped in Yokohama ADVAN tyres tailored to each stunt sequence.
Inside, 1970s nostalgia meets modern insanity: a carbon-fibre dashboard with wood-grain detailing, the original Subaru radio, and repurposed climate-control knobs that now operate the active aero system.
“This car is absolutely wild — in the best possible way,” said Pastrana at the unveiling. “It’s got the soul of an old Subaru but the tech to do things no Gymkhana car ever could. Everything about it is built to take a beating, fly high and land even harder.”
The new Gymkhana chapter, titled Aussie Shred, premieres in early December on Hoonigan’s YouTube channel. Filmed across Australia — from Sydney’s streets to the dusty Outback — it reportedly contains “more tyre smoke than an entire rally season combined.”
Created by the late Ken Block, Gymkhana has become one of the most influential phenomena in modern car culture. Now, with Pastrana’s third Subaru build and the most technically advanced Gymkhana car ever made, its legacy clearly lives on. The Subaru Brataroo 9500 Turbo isn’t just a stunt machine; it’s a modern legend that proves petrol-powered madness still thrives in the digital age.
