Subaru Pursues Perfection, They Attain Excellence With WRX Nurburgring 24-Hour Win

Subaru Corporation announced that the Subaru WRX NBR (an S4-based race car) won the grueling Nurburgring 24-hour race held in Germany this weekend. The WRX NBR won its SP4T2 class for turbocharged cars with engines between 2.0 and 2.6 liters. 

Last year, the WRX finished in second place. You can read my report here.

Subaru uses the 2.4-liter turbocharged Boxer engine in the WRX NBR, the same FA24 Subaru Boxer powerplant they use in the 2024 Outback XT and Outback Wilderness trim levels. 

Subaru says, "The victory on circuits like Nurburgring, which is so-called one of the world's most challenging tracks, once again demonstrated the reliability, durability and high performance of Subaru vehicles, including horizontally opposed engine and symmetrical AWD."

Subaru has now won the grueling race seven times, so Subaru Corporation and its performance partner, Subaru Tecnica International (STI), know how to do it. This year, the WRX NBR won its class and finished 51st overall with 44 laps completed. That's quite an accomplishment. 

Why Does Subaru Do It?

I recently wrote that Subaru uses the data from the track to enhance the driving characteristics of its new 2025 Forester, Outback, Crosstrek, and other new models you drive daily on the road. Read my report here.

The Subaru WRX NBR, From The Track To The Road @SubaruReport @torquenewsautohttps://t.co/iqNM9mZnds#subaru #wrx #subaruwrx #wrxnbr pic.twitter.com/RpzeOSbfQf
— Denis Flierl (@DenisFlierl) May 20, 2024

Subaru uses engine, suspension, and all-wheel-drive data to enhance the driving characteristics of all its cars and SUVs, not just the WRX performance car. Subaru has done this since the 90s with the Impreza WRX rally sports car.

Subaru says, "Through its motorsport activities, Subaru and STI will continue to pursue engineering excellence to assure "Enjoyment and Peace of Mind" to customers worldwide."

As I've said in previous reports, Subaru engineers will study the WRX NBR data from this win and ask themselves, "How can we transfer this to the next-generation 2026 Subaru Outback?" 

The Nurburgring puts incredible stress on engine and suspension parts, some of which will reach the Subaru model you drive. 

The Most Grueling Race In The World

The Nurburgring 24-hour is called "the toughest race in the world." With a total length of approximately 15.5 miles, a 984-foot elevation difference, and ever-changing weather conditions in the Eifel region of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, everything in the WRX NBR has to perform at the highest level to survive. If not, parts will break. 

Subaru Boxer and AWD Benefit From The Race

It would be the equivalent of driving your car full-out for nearly 700 miles. That's what the Subaru Boxer engine in the WRX NBR has to endure. Yes, it's a high-performance engine with upgraded internals, but it gives Subaru engineers data they can use in your daily driver. 

Subaru also uses the data to perfect its Symmetrical all-wheel-drive technology. Yes, the WRX NBR race car uses the same AWD tech as your car. 

Subaru Pursues Perfection, They Attain Excellence

You may have heard the quote from Vince Lombardi, world champion coach of the Green Bay Packers. 

"Gentlemen, we will chase perfection, and we will chase it relentlessly, knowing all the while we can never attain it. But along the way, we shall catch excellence." ― Vince Lombardi.

Subaru and Subaru Tecnica International do that with the WRX NBR and the Nurburgring-24-hour race. They weren't perfect, but they attained excellence by winning their class. 

I am glad Subaru Corporation puts so much time, energy, and resources into the Subaru WRX NBR race car. 

I don't know when, but Subaru will use the information they received from it in the Subaru Forester, Outback, Crosstrek, and other all-wheel-drive models you drive. Subaru vehicles aren't perfect, but Subaru pursues perfection. They may attain excellence. 

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I am Denis Flierl, a top Torque News reporter since 2012. I’ve invested over 13 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role, working with every major car brand. I am an experienced Rocky Mountain Automotive Press member. You'll find my expert Subaru analysis here. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Subaru Corporation