Subaru campaigning Impreza STI at Nurburgring 24-hour race for a second year.

[EJ25RUN]

Here is the official website....
http://www.subaru-sti.co.jp/e/nbr24h2009/


Press Release...

STI, Impreza to contest Nurburgring 24-hour race

This May, SUBARU Tecnica International (STI) heads to the Nurburgring circuit for the "37th ADAC Zurich 24 Hour Race" (24 Hours of the Nurburgring) with an originally tuned version of the Impreza WRX STI aiming for a class victory.

The ADAC Zurich 24-hour race takes place at the course of 25.378km in total, and is the largest endurance event in the world, with more than 200 cars participating, familiarized by European manufacturers who enter every year. STI particularly and practically uses 20.832kms "Nordschleife" (also called "Old Course"), known as intensively severe course, as a proofing ground for STI developed vehicles. STI's objective to participate this event is to collect data and verify technical know-how, and also to learn out of this race for future STI vehicle development. STI's vehicle development is focused on further enhancing the unique ride quality which can be characterized by the theme, "Strength and nimbleness".

The participating car is Impreza WRX STI built and tuned exclusively by STI, adopting "Flexible Tower Bar", along with a variety of original chassis and body stiffener and components. Modifications also include weight-reduction and safety equipment installation.

The car will participate in the SP3T class (for turbo-equipped machines with an engine displacement of 2.0litter). STI will conduct the team management for this race, supervised by Hideharu Tatsumi (STI's General Manager of Vehicle Experiment Division), while racing the car are four highly experienced professional Japanese drivers.
Entrant name : SUBARU TECNICA INTERNATIONAL(STI)
Participating car : SUBARU Impreza WRX STI(GRB type)
Horizontally opposed 4-cylinder EJ20
2.0litter DOHC turbo / SYMMETRICAL AWD
Suspension : Front - strut, rear - double wishbone
Vehicle manufacturer : STI
Team director : Hideharu Tatsumi
(STI General Manager of Vehicle Experiment Division)
Drivers : Kazuo Shimizu, Toshihiro Yoshida
Naoki Hattori, Koji Matsuda


STI NBR CHALLENGE web
www.subaru-sti.co.jp/e/nbr24h2009/

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2008 didn't go so well. I remember watching the race live at the Subaru dealer when the car stopped with problems in the forest.

One of the salesmen had no clue whatsoever what the race, the track, or anything else was going on after he had asked me what i was watching.

[SampaGuy]

Japanese drivers = downfall

[EJ25RUN]

Japanese drivers = downfall

They are older as well.

I'm sure you know the 'Ring 24 is the worlds biggest amatuer racing event so to see them bring this group together shows they are more concerned about R&D and finishing vs winning a class.

I'm pretty sure last year's race saw a privateer 06-07 STi beat them in the rankings overall even though they are essentualy a lite factory effort.