Subaru Prepares for GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge

PHOENIXVILLE, Pa., Jan. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Subaru of America, Inc. Subaru Road Racing Team (SRRT) announced today that drivers Andrew Aquilante and Bret Spaude return as factory team drivers for Subaru's entry in the Grand Sport (GS) class of the 2012 GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge.  The first round of the series is at the historic Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, FL, on January 27, 2012.

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Fielding a race-prepped 2012 4-door Subaru WRX STI developed specifically to compete in a class replete with rival team cars developing over 400 horsepower, SRRT has been working on a technical progression program for the #35 STI during the off-season.  Traditionally serving as round one of the championship, Daytona International Speedway incorporates a portion of its high-banked oval plus infield complex to create a 3.56-mile, 12-turn road course, which places a high emphasis on maximum power output and aero efficiency.

Co-drivers for the #35 Subaru WRX STI will be Andrew Aquilante of Chester Springs, Pa., and Bret Spaude of Bushnell, Fla., who comprise one pairing in a class of over 30 teams set to contest the Grand Sport class.

SRRT Principal Joe Aquilante noted, "We've enjoyed a very productive off-season, and our team is looking forward to getting back to the business of racing our Subaru WRX STI.  Our drivers have been focusing on honing their physical fitness while our technical staff has been diligently progressing our car development plan.  To say that we're excited for Daytona is an understatement."

Added James Han, motorsports marketing manager for Subaru of America, Inc., "I feel confident that we have the elements in place to mount a successful bid for the championship.  To begin, the Subaru WRX STI lends itself as a credible performance platform from its symmetrical all-wheel drive system to its Subaru BOXER engine.  The team is looking to build upon our experience from last year's campaign and convert our solid qualifying efforts to podium results."

Sponsors for SRRT include Subaru of America, Inc., Subaru Tecnica International (STI), Subaru Performance Tuning (SPT), Hawk Brakes, Ron Davis Racing Radiators, Automotive Racing products, VAC Motorsports, Rockland Standard Gear, Ecutek, Lista, Rotary Lifts, Cusco, Carbonetic, Hella, and Perrin.

About SRRT Phoenix LLC
SRRT Phoenix LLC represents the Subaru of America Inc. road racing effort in the 10-round GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge series and is owned and managed by Joe Aquilante of Phoenix Performance, LLC. The team's 32,000 sq. ft. facility is in Phoenixville, Pa., 40 miles west of Philadelphia, Pa. Team drivers Andrew Aquilante and Bret Spaude race a Subaru WRX STI in the Grand Sport class.

For more information about the team and the cars, call Joe Aquilante at 610-482-0141.  Fans can visit the team's website at www.srrtphoenix.com and the Phoenix Performance website at www.phoenixperformance.net

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About Subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru Symmetrical

All-Wheel Drive vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 600 dealers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill production plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc. is the only U.S. automobile production plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. For additional information visit www.subaru.com.

This press release is available at www.media.subaru.com 

"Subaru," "WRX STI," "BOXER" all model names, and the Subaru logo are registered trademarks of the Subaru subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd, Japan.

Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners.

Contact:
Dominick Infante
Subaru of America, Inc.
856-488-8615
[email protected]

Sean Maynard
Subaru Press Information
248-805-1656
[email protected]

SOURCE Subaru of America, Inc.