Subaru returns to the Red Bull Global Rallycross field this weekend boasting an increased presence of four entries, a driver lineup bursting with off-road racing pedigree and a fresh new look.
So far the 2015 season has been unkind to Subaru, whose best finish of the year is sixth place at MCAS New River courtesy of Sverre Isachsen. Last year the team notched up four podiums and a victory, with both drivers finishing in the top eight in points.
After missing the previous round in Washington DC to improve their new but uncompetitive WRX STi, the Vermont Sports Car-run team is back with Isachsen and Bucky Lasek behind the wheel of their new-for-2015 cars.
Joining them will be Travis Pastrana and David Higgins who will be peddling the hatchback STis the team ran last season.
Higgins, making his first rallycross start since Seattle last season, heads to LA fresh from taking his seventh win from seven rounds of this season’s Rally America championship at the Ojibwe Forests Rally.
Credit: Matt Kalish/Rally America Media
The win for the Manxman was his thirteenth in a row. He already mathematically clinched the 2015 Rally America title back in July and is now aiming to become the first driver since John Buffum in 1987 to complete a perfect season in American rally competition.
Pastrana will also be making his first Red Bull GRC start of the season, although he did compete in the non-championship X Games event in June.
The action sports legend has had his fair share of rallying and rallycross success. As well as a Red Bull GRC victory (back in 2012), the Nitro Circus founder has four Rally America championships to his name and two podiums from two starts in the US’ premier stage rally competition this year.
Subaru’s four-pronged attack on the Red Bull Global Rallycross field comes at an event which they will be sponsoring for the first time too.
Red Bull GRC Los Angeles presented by Subaru Tecnica International will see a collection of important historical Subaru vehicles on display, in addition to their increased on-track presence.
