Though Subarus are no stranger to the hillclimb scene, it’s rare to see competitive Imprezas in wagon-form. Additionally, this odd mixture of GF8-series body parts seems to have omitted the rear doors, yet retained the heavy glass window and hatch. It’s stylish, that’s for sure, but it’s not just a fashion statement—it’s got over 500 horsepower under the hood.

Photo credit: Christian Guex

Christian Guex is no stranger to these narrow mountain roads; his style is calm and clean. No understeer or oversteer, but just a series of tidy lines without any hysterics. The motor usually stays on-song—though there is a notable amount of lag—and with a clever mix of attitude adjustment, four wheel-drive traction, and a responsive right foot Guex always rockets out of each corner.

https://

As shown by the above footage, the Subie will snap away in some of the hairpin corners, but it’s still able to generate a lot of forward motion simultaneously—even when the rears break away. In the faster corners, he can roll on the throttle as he adds steering lock, and the car remains completely planted. However, the short wheelbase means that a long lift of the throttle lightens the rear enough to allow it to pivot at speed—seen at 2:35 in the onboard footage—so Guex still needs to stay vigilant of both axles. It might use four wheels to transfer the power to the pavement, but it retains a nervousness that makes the Subaru look like a complete joy to drive.