Will the 2017 Subaru WRX STI GRC Supercar be Ready to Compete with VW and Ford?

It was a year of preparation for Subaru SRT USA as they used Global Rallycross 2016 to get the new 2017 WRX STI ready for next season. Will the new STI be ready to compete with VW and Ford?

Three Subaru WRX STI GRC cars finished up in LA for the last race of the Red Bull Global Rallycross season. It was year of testing and strategic planning for SRT USA. What does the last race reveal about where the team is for next season?

There were solid performances by Chris Atkinson and David Higgins who both showed the progress SRT USA, Subaru Tecnica International and Vermont SportsCar made with the Subaru WRX STI GRC cars. Chris Atkinson’s #55 WRX STI was the fastest qualifying car on the track beating the leaders in the Volkswagen Beetles and Ford Focus ST cars driven by Tanner Foust, Scott Speed and Brian Deegan.

Chris Atkinson finished 11th in the driver championship and David Higgins finished in the 13th spot. Subaru finished in the fourth spot behind VW, Ford and Honda in the Manufacturer Championship. Next season, Subaru will take what they learned and will bring a new 2017 Subaru WRX STI GRC Supercar to Red Bull Global Rallycross. They will challenge the Volkswagen Beetles and Ford Focus STs for podium spots and hopefully a championship. Subaru says they are right on track for 2017.

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Photo credit: Subaru