Richard Hammond’s Favorite Car from The Grand Tour
The Best Car on The Grand Tour
In a recent video for his YouTube channel, DriveTribe, Richard Hammond revealed that the best car he ever drove
on The Grand Tour was the special edition Subaru Impreza WRX STI from “A Scandi Flick.” After some thorough tuning
and restoring, he is finally getting his car back.
The Story of Martin
Dubbed Martin, because of its vandalized Martini livery, the car was always a sporty piece of kit. However,
when Hammond took ownership of it, he decided to hand it over to the DriveTribe team in order to modify it.
Despite being named after it, the first thing the team did was remove the Martini wrap.
Returning to its Iconic Look
“We wrapped it for the show, because it was a bit of fun, but I kind of agree [with the YouTube commenters],
thank you very much for your forceful suggestions, that we return it to blue because it is iconic,” said
Hammond. “It’s kind of nice to see it throw off that silly outfit and ‘here I am,’ in the iconic blue with gold
wheels.”
Restoration and Modifications
The DriveTribe team cleaned up the body, removing rust and buffing out dents incurred during filming. They
decided to keep the hitch as part of the car’s story, although Hammond isn’t entirely convinced about it. The
car also received new coilovers, fresh brakes, and new tires. The most significant changes were made under the
hood, resulting in a powerful 530 hp (395 kW/537 PS) thanks to a stroker kit and other modifications.
A Serious Performer
The Subaru Impreza WRX STI is now a serious performer with its enhanced power. While Hammond hasn’t had the
chance to drive it yet, he mentions that other people, including co-host Mike Ferny, have driven it. Their
reactions to the modifications can be seen in the accompanying video.
Watch the Video
Conclusion
Richard Hammond’s Subaru Impreza WRX STI from The Grand Tour has undergone extensive tuning and restoration.
Returning to its iconic blue look, the car now boasts a powerful 530 hp engine. While Hammond hasn’t driven it
yet, the reactions from others suggest that it is a thrilling and impressive vehicle.
