How both 2015 Subaru WRX STIs fail to get into GRC Detroit Final

It was another disappointing day for Subaru Rally Team USA and the two new 2015 Subaru WRX STIs. What happened in Detroit Day 1?

It was a day of poor results for Sverre Isachsen in the #11 2015 Subaru WRX STI as he slammed into the wall after losing control. Bucky Lasek in the #81 STI didn’t wreck his car, but couldn’t keep up in the LCQ.

It was a great day for Ken Block who is leading in points and trying to win two in a row. This is Round 5 of 12 of Red Bull Global Rallycross at Detroit. The track is tight and close and there are concrete walls for the drivers to contend with. The track for this weekends GRC race is on the scenic Belle Isle, located in the middle of the Detroit River with the city skyline as the backdrop. It’s a .757 mile track that uses the parks public streets for the double header weekend. Saturday there were two semi-final races and a Last Chance Qualifier (LQC) before the 10-car, 10-lap Final. How did the two 2015 Subaru WRX STIs do?

#11 2015 Subaru WRX STI

In Semifinal A, the #11 2015 Subaru WRX STI with Isachsen driving was in the second row. He had a great start off the line and jumped to third place right out of the gate. He is looking good until he lands hard from the big jump and the Viking Warrior can’t keep the car straight. Isachsen loses control and hits the concrete wall hard. The STI suffers major damage to the front of the car and is dead in the middle of the track.The STI can’t be repaired and Isachsen is scratched from the LCQ with no chance at the Final.

#81 2015 Subaru WRX STI

Lasek in the #81 Subaru STI starts in the second row of the LCQ and Joni Wiman and Brian Deegan take the joker on the first lap and take the quick lead. Lasek is in fourth place in the early laps which would put him in the Final if he can hold on. Steve Arpin takes the joker in the 5th lap and Lasek slips to the fifth spot. Lasek takes the Joker on the last lap but can’t move up into fourth and is eliminated from the Final.

The Final

It was an exciting Final as Patrik Sandell pushes Ken Block in the first lap and takes the early lead with Scott Speed in third. Sandell pulls away from Block with a 2.2 second lead and it looks like nobody will catch him. With just 3 laps to go, Sandell has a puncture in his right rear tire and Block passes him easily. Block in his Ford Fiesta pulls away from Scoot Speed with a big 3 second lead who passes Sandell and Sebastian Eriksson moves up to third. Block goes on to win his second GRC race in a row and his 6th overall win in GRC keeping him the points leader for 2015.

Bucky Lasek has no points this season and Sverre Isachsen is in last place (10th overall) and 178 points behind the leader Ken Block. Round five Day 1 in Detroit goes down for SRT USA and the 2015 Subaru WRX STIs with no points and very little to be excited about for Subaru fans again. Stay tuned for Day 2 of the double header which takes place at 4:30pm EST today and you can watch the action live on NBC.