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Subaru gives Bucky Lasek his first shot in a WRX STI rally car

In two weeks, Bucky Lasek will make his stage rally debut at Snow*Drift Rally. Why won’t David Higgins be driving?
2016 Subaru WRX STI

We aren’t sure why David Higgins won’t start the season in the new 2016 Subaru WRX STI at Sno*Drift Rally, but it will be Bucky Lasek. He will be SRT USA’s driver for the event. According to Subaru Motorsports, Higgins will sit out this first race and be ready to make his start at Rally in the 100 Acre Wood in late March.

Craig Drew will be Lasek’s co-driver

This will be Lasek’s first attempt at rally racing and he’ll have an expert co-driver in Craig Drew who has been in the cockpit with David Higgins for all his championship runs. Higgins will be at the Snow*Drift Rally and Subaru says he will serve as coach and mentor for the inexperienced Lasek.

Lasek has STI motorsport experience

Lasek has been piloting the Subaru WRX STI for SRT USA in the Red Bull Global Rallycross series the last four years, so he has plenty of seat time in the STI motorsport cars. He’s also completed extensive rally driving training at DirtFish Rally School in Subaru’s WRX STI rally cars. The Snow*Drift Rally will be a different kind of challenge.

Very little experience snow experience

Laser says he has very little experience driving in the snow, so this will be a big test for the skateboarder turned Rallycross driver. Sno*Drift Rally is held on over 120 miles of snow and ice-covered roads in northern Michigan. Subaru Rally Team USA seams to have confidence in the driver. It will help that rally stages are lined with snowbanks making mistakes less damaging to the car.

Bucky Lasek will make his stage rally debut in the 2016 Subaru WRX STI rally car at the Sno*Drift Rally January 28-29. Subaru says they fully intend to compete for another championship this season and Bucky Lasek will be the one to start things off. Subaru Motorsports Marketing Manager Rob Weir says, “We’re excited to try something new this season for our rally fans. It’s going to challenge our entire team more than ever.” Is Subaru grooming Lasek to be the next SRT USA stage rally driver? Stay tuned.

Source: Subaru Motorsports

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