STI NBR CHALLENGE

The SUBARU/STI team competed in the 53rd Nürburgring 24-Hour Race, held from June 19 to 22, 2025, with the SUBARU WRX NBR CHALLENGE 2025 (Car No. 88), based on the WRX S4. Unlike last year, when the team battled unstable weather, this year’s race week was blessed with stable, favorable conditions.

In official qualifying, driver Kota Sasaki set a lap time of 8:56.629, securing the top in the SP4T class* and achieving a time equivalent to 52nd overall, which gave the team the Group 3 pole position for the final race.
* SP4T class…Class for turbocharged cars between 2.0L and 2.6L.
The final race began at 16:00. The SUBARU WRX steadily climbed the order in the early stages, but the race was interrupted for about 2 hours due to power outage at the facility, bringing out a red flag. Once restarted, the field reassembled on the grid and continued behind the safety car.

Later, in the downhill Adenauer section, the SUBARU WRX—driven by Tim Schrick—made contact with a lapped car, spun, and hit the guardrail head-on. The damage extended beyond exterior bodywork to the exhaust system, muffler, upright, suspension arms, driveshaft, differential, and even the subframe.

Fortunately, the car was able to return to the pits at low speed, where mechanics began an intensive repair effort lasting nearly five hours. The front section was straightened by members experienced in rally chassis work using frame-correction equipment, while the rear section was restored by dealer mechanics working together with remarkable teamwork. The sound of hammers echoed throughout the pit garage.

After replacing the damaged left-rear suspension arms, re-establishing alignment, and conducting system checks, the car rejoined the race at around 5:15 AM. At that moment, it stood 119th overall and 2nd in class.

Once back on track, the drivers confirmed the machine’s good condition. Even under severe midday temperatures (35°C air, 50°C track), fuel management and 9-lap stint operations worked effectively, allowing the team to make steady progress.

In the final stages, the car was handed from Sasaki to Schrick, who continued pushing toward the checkered flag. The race concluded shortly after 16:00, with the SUBARU WRX completing 94 laps (approx. 2,386.5 km), finishing 76th overall out of 136 starters and 2nd in the SP4T class.

The team’s recovery from the mid-race crash and its determined run to the finish demonstrated not only the car’s durability and serviceability, but also the exceptional capability and unity of the entire crew.

Comment from Team Director Takuya Sawada:
“Although the crash cost us considerable time, the entire team came together to repair the car and succeeded in sending it back out on track. After that, our car ran without any issues, and the drivers pushed hard to climb back up the position until the finish. I am truly proud of this team.”