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SUBARU IMPREZA spec C Goes the Distance at the Nurburgring!


June 2006
 Filed under: SUBARU Car News | SUBARU Headlines
19 June 2006 -- At just after three o'clock German time today, Australian driver Chris Atkinson crossed the line only a few metres behind the leader in a well-timed coordinated finish of the 2006 running of the 24 Hours of the Nurburgring.
Although the Autosportif Racing UK-run car didn't get the result the team was looking for this year, what they have demonstrated is that the SUBARU IMPREZA, in a very standard form, can come to the legendary endurance event - and succeed. All the drivers commented that the chassis, as it is right now, is easily good enough to challenge the best cars here, the Porsche 911 GT3s and the top BMW M3s.

George Donaldson: "As these very positive comments on the SUBARU IMPREZA come from drivers who have experience in the rival machines they mention, we feel we've got a very strong product, one that is well capable of taking on the favourites in this, the toughest endurance race for touring cars in the world today.

"Of course, we were hoping to emulate the success of last year's STI-supported entry (2nd in class, 14th overall), but this year was different in a variety of ways. First, weather-wise it was bone-dry, and a few weaknesses in our preparation were revealed throughout the race - but that's normal for 24-hour racing!

"Everything that's happened here is completely rectifiable very, very simply. In fact, most of the remedies can come from our current Group N V.O. stock. So personally speaking, I'm very excited about the prospect of continuing this type of enterprise - and I'm very much hoping that Autosportif Racing UK are going to go on and do more. I do also hope we can continue to provide more technical advice and support to them."

Chris Atkinson: "I've had an absolutely fantastic time this weekend. I really enjoyed the race. It was a new experience for me, and one I'm very happy to have had the opportunity to be a part of. "

George Donaldson: "It's been a huge learning process for Chris and he's absorbed a massive amount of information - performing remarkably well throughout the entire event. Most of all, he's impressed everybody here, including all his teammates."

Media reports state there were over 200,000 people at the world-renowned circuit, many of them SUBARU fans. With the performance of the metallic blue IMPREZA, the marque can be sure there were more than a few new converts this weekend also.

The car came home in exactly the same condition it went out in - immaculate and without a scratch. The drivers did their best to take car of the car, while maintaining the pace necessary to show the competitiveness of the SUBARU machine.

Apart from the turbo problems, the Martyn Spurrell-run team was set for a truly stunning result here. But that is the reality of endurance racing.

Wrap-up comment from George Donaldson: "I'm looking forward to next year."

Jonathan Price: "Since the first session of the race where we addressed the understeer on the car, it's been an absolute joy to drive. Had we had the proper power, we would very definitely have been in the fight for a class podium - without any question or doubt. I'm looking forward and hope to get the opportunity to drive a SUBARU again in the future."

Phil Bennett was equally pleased after his weekend in the perfectly-handling IMPREZA, going on to say: "If we took this car to 450 horsepower, there is no doubt in my mind - no doubt whatsoever - we would be beating all the top Porsches. It's an absolute joy to drive the car."

All the drivers made further positive comments about the car's four-wheel drive symmetrical drive train, repeatedly stating how fabulous the SUBARU is under braking and how stable it is under any slippery conditions.

Alan Van der Mewre: "When there were oil flags out, I could just go in, find the oil and drive sideways around it - no problem at all. I would love the chance to drive the car again."

Autosportif Racing UK team boss Martyn Spurrell: "Obviously we're very happy to get the car home - and it looked very much the part crossing the finish line. What we've done here is quite clearly demonstrate the promise of the SUBARU IMPREZA in this 24-Hour and VLN (German long-distance championship) racing environment. Quite clearly, the car has the pace. We had a number of development problems as the race developed, which has been very disappointing. However, the most important thing for us is the fact that the potential of the car has been revealed very clearly here.

"We've got a huge amount of interest from our customers and we're looking forward to keeping up the development process of the car - and maximizing its potential over the rest of the year."


Source: Subaru Tecnica International/Subaru World Rally Team

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