We don’t only feature fully modified vehicles in NZ Performance Car magazine — the mildly modified daily drivers get a look in too! It doesn’t matter what it is, if you’re passionate about it, modify it, and drive it to work every day, we’ll showcase it.
- Name: Todd Bradley
- Location: Auckland
- Occupation: Owner of WSM
- Make/model: 1996 Subaru WRX STI GC8
- Engine: Subaru EJ20T, GReddy Profec-B II boost controller, oil filter relocation kit, front-mount intercooler, Trust Airinx filter, Pitworks radiator cap, HKS SLD, Accusump accumulator
- Drivetrain: STI close-ratio five-speed gearbox
- Interior: Quest4 roll-cage, Sparco harnesses, Sparco steering wheel, Autometer gauges, Trust gearknob
- Exterior: Trust front lip, Buddy Club GT wing
- Suspension: HKS coilovers, Whiteline sway bars, Whiteline anti-lift kit
- Wheels/tyres: 17×9-inch Enkei RPF1s, 205/40R17 Nitto NT01s
NZ Performance Car: Hey Todd, it’s obvious you’ve built this WRX for the circuit. How long have you owned it?
Todd Bradley: Hey, I’ve owned the WRX STI for about seven years now.
Why did you choose a Subaru WRX as your weapon of choice?
I’ve been through a fair few of them in various forms, but I’ve always loved Subarus, like the old Legacy rally cars Colin McRae used to drive. I purchased it as a bone stock STI RA to attend a few track days with a very close mate Tony Broome. He owned a very stock V4 STI coupe, and we were just going to have some fun in our standard WRXs.
Were there areas you focused your time on modifying first, or did you just do everything at once with an end goal in mind?
It was supposed to remain standard, but that lasted about two weeks. So, the usual happened — an HKS exhaust system, HKS SLD, and a set of HKS adjustable coilovers. After that, it slowly just grew into what it is today with the big brakes, stripped interior, and the roll cage. The engine still runs the factory turbo and computer, so I guess you could say I focused on the stop and turn, over the ‘go’.
What areas have you changed since the original build and why didn’t they work in the first place?
To be honest, nothing has really changed. I had a very large brush with a couple of walls at Pukekohe a few years back, which resulted in a respray, but other than that I just added bits as time went on. I’m reasonably fussy, so I just did things that work well, and above all, look cool.
What circuits have you taken the WRX to and how fast is it?
I’ve taken it around Pukekohe and Hampton Downs, it goes pretty good. On the old Pukekohe layout it would do a 1min 6s.
Do you have any future developments planned for the WRX?
I’m not sure at the moment, I’m actually thinking it might be time to move on and start a new project.
Thanks for your time Todd, we wish you luck for your future endeavours.
