Carlo van Dam rejoins Subaru for Nürburgring 24 Hrs

WRX STI defends class win in endurance classic

#155 Subaru Tecnica International Subaru Impreza WRX: Toshihiro Yoshida, Kota Sasaki, Marcel Engels, Carlo van Dam

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

Tokio - Dutch racing driver Carlo van Dam has rejoined the Subaru works team for the 2012 Nürburgring 24 hour race. This endurance racing classic on the famous, over 22 kilometres long Nordschleife, will this year be held on May 19 and 20. The race marks the third time that Carlo will compete in the event for the Japanese car manufacturer; last year they won the SP3T-class together.

“It is one of the greatest races in the world”, Carlo says. “The Nordschleife is simply the most challenging track that one can imagine. I have now done this 24 hour race three times already, the last two of which for Subaru, and especially given our successful run last year, I am very pleased to have been asked to be part of their works team once again. Although I now race for Honda in the Japanese Super GT Series, Honda has kindly given me permission to do this one event at the Nürburgring for Subaru.”

In Japan, Subaru recently presented its further improved, 2012 version of the winning WRX STI of 2011. The new car is lighter still (twenty kilos) and performed promisingly throughout its first test session at the circuit of Fuji. In april, Subaru will compete in a shorter event at the Nordschleife, the 24 hour race starts on May 19.

“I am looking forward to it already”, Carlo says. “The race, the track and the ambiance are unique and the Subaru-team always puts in a maximum and well organised effort.”

Carlo will drive the WRX STI together with Toshihiro Yoshida and Kouta Sasaki of Japan, and German Marcel Engels.