British TV show Fifth Gear in yesterday's episode did a track comparision
between a Volkswagen Golf GTi and Subaru Impreza WRX

http://www.finalgear.com/shows/fifthgear/13/9/

[Spoiler space]


Despite the Golf GTI having less power, only front wheel drive and not
even being very well considered as a track car, the Subaru was "nearly 2
seconds slower" :( *

Ok, we already knew that the 2008 WRX is not supposed to be very sporty.
Let's see when the STI (and the EVO X) arrive in Europe and Top Gear and
Fifth Gear compare those. Or maybe we won't have to wait that long. The
guys from Top Gear went to Japan recently or will be going shortly
filming for the summer series . It is not know what they drove there,
(Nissan GT ?) but I would really like if they drove the STI and the EVO.

BTW, Vicki Butler-Henderson is a racing driver:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicki_Butler-Henderson

* I just remembered that the French magazine "Motorsport" recently tested
the WRX and IIRC it was a comparision with the most sporty Renault Megane
(the R26, 230 HP, IIRC). In a short circuit the difference was even greater
(4 seconds ? I don't have the magazine here). But of course that Renault
has a very hard suspension that works on the track, but not necessarily
on the road (or on a rally special stage :).