STI (Subaru Technica International) has announced an outline of Subaru Motorsport activities for 2013.
For a second year STI has built a BRZ GT300 race car for Japan’s Super GT series, which is widely regarded as Japan’s top motorsports category.
The race car employs the same front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout as the production BRZ model. The Subaru Boxer turbo engine is mounted in the front.
As in previous years, the team will be run by “R&D SPORT” with Tetsuya Yamano and Kouta Sasaki as the drivers. Subaru will develop the car to compete for both class and series wins.
STI will be looking to win the under two litre turbocharged class at the Nürburgring 24-Hour Race (from 17 to 20 May in Germany) for a third consecutive time with a four door WRX STI.
The car has had its centre of gravity lowered further since last year and other performance enhancements. It will run in a short race in the VLN series in April at Nürburgring for settings to be made before it goes into the 24-hour race on 19 and 20 May.
Toshihiro Yoshida and Kouta Sasaki from Japan will drive the WRX STI together with two more drivers from Europe. As in previous years, service personnel selected from Subaru dealers in Japan will be dispatched to the race as part of the team crew.
In rallying Subaru will continue to support private drivers who participate in the FIA World Rally Championship 2 which has replaced the World Production Car Rally Championship and the European Rally Championship (ERC) which now incorporates the former Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC).
To find out more about the Subaru BRZ, please visit www.brz.co.nz