The folks at SUBARU Tecnica International (STI) have prepped a Subaru WRX STI for the 24 Hours of Nurburgring endurance race. Watch out Nordschleife because something AWD this way comes.

The STI will compete with the 200+ car field in the SP3T class (2.0-liter, turbo) with a fairly stock car. The upgrades, besides the obvious safety equipment, include a flexible tower bar and other new chassis and body-stiffening components. The company hopes to take this know-how and put it into future modes. Additionally, they hope to win their class.

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