Inside Travis Pastrana’s Insane Subaru Brataroo — The Wildest Gymkhana Car Yet

The Gymkhana series is back, and it’s gone Down Under.

Action-sports icon Travis Pastrana will drive a heavily modified 1978 Subaru Brat, nicknamed the Brataroo, when Gymkhana: Aussie Shred premieres online in early December.

The build fuses vintage Subaru character with next-level engineering from Vermont SportsCar and Hoonigan.

Heart of a beast: engine, drivetrain and chassis

Vermont SportsCar fitted the Brataroo with a highly pressurized 2.0-litre flat-four that produces a staggering 670 horsepower and 680 lb-ft of torque.

The powerplant revs to 9,500 rpm, making it the highest-revving Gymkhana car to date.

Power flows through a six-speed sequential gearbox and motorsport-spec differentials to all four wheels for razor-sharp control during drift and airborne stunts.

The structural package is equally serious: a WRC-spec chassis engineered by VSC under a full carbon-fibre body, integrated with a motorsport roll cage to handle the high-speed abuse Gymkhana demands.

Quick specs

Design that performs: radical styling and active aero

The Brataroo’s look was reimagined by digital artist Khyzyl Saleem into an aggressive widebody with a retro-inspired livery that cheekily nods to its Australian setting with kangaroo motifs.

Under the skin, the car introduces active aerodynamic systems rarely seen on Gymkhana builds.

Key aero features include a pair of interchangeable rear wings, one tuned for top speed, the other for stunt work, and movable front arch louvres that pivot to adjust the car’s airborne attitude during jumps.

Those systems give Pastrana a finer degree of control when the car is both grounded and flight-bound.

“This BRAT’s completely unhinged, in the best way possible,” said Travis Pastrana. “It’s got the soul of a vintage Subaru with the tech to do things no Gymkhana car has ever done.”

Interior and details: crafted for abuse and show

Inside, the cabin blends motorsport minimalism with period nods: a carbon-fibre dash trimmed with wood-grain accents, purposeful controls, and a harnessed cockpit ready for recurring punishment.

The choice of forged wheels that salute 1970s rallying ties the project back to Subaru’s competitive heritage while keeping every element functional for extreme filming.

From SEMA to streaming: rollout and release

Before the Brataroo hits screens in Gymkhana: Aussie Shred, Vermont SportsCar, and Hoonigan will show the car at the SEMA Show. The film, set against Australia’s dramatic terrain, follows the Gymkhana formula of cinematic stunts, precision driving, and theatrical flair, with Pastrana pushing the build’s limits.

Why it matters: innovation meets nostalgia

The Brataroo is more than a spectacle. It demonstrates how modern engineering, aerodynamics, and production-grade motorsport hardware can transform a classic platform into a stunt machine that’s equal parts tribute and technical leap.

For Subaru fans, it’s a celebration of rally DNA; for builders, it’s a reminder that creativity and engineering remain the core of standout car culture.