Subaru WRX STI Avoids Disaster Wins Nurburgring 24-Hr [Video]

After just 50 minutes and four laps, the red flag came out and the 2016 Nurburgring 24-hour race was suspended. Rain was the challenge this weekend and the 2016 WRX STI NBR made it through and won the Nurburgring 24-hour for the second year in-a-row. What potential disaster did the team avoid?

After just four laps, the storm transformed the Nordschleife into a dangerously slippery track between a water slide and an ice rink. The race started in dry conditions but the weather deteriorated quickly and officials suspended the race. The storm left many cars stranded on the track. Some cars made it back to the pit lane under their own steam, while others were towed back. What happened to the STI NBR?

WRX STI avoids disaster

The WRX STI slipped off the course due to the heavy rain and hail, but Carlo Van Dam worked his magic and quickly got the car back on course. He just missed hitting another car that had spun out, and the German driver made a perfect decision and avoided what could have been a disaster and put the STI out of the race.

Watch as Carlo Van Dam avoids disaster

Drivers survive the brutal night stage

During the brutal night stage, it’s a tough race for drivers and machine. The team came through in first place. It remained dry and the drivers only reported periods of fog, which reduced visibility. As day broke, rain was still an issue and with 4 hours left, the Subaru WRX STI was in first place in the SP 3T Class and ranked 21st overall. It was wet and soggy, but it didn’t stop the WRX STI from winning big. Subaru has the perfect all-wheel-drive setup for these conditions.

The Subaru Tecnica International (STI) team with drivers Hideki Yamauchi, Tim Schrick, Marcel Lasse and Carlo Van Dam pulled off a repeat and have won the grueling Nurburgring 24-hour race again. The WRX STI had a best lap of 09:11.340, completed 120 laps and finished 20th overall.

The team wins the Nurburgring 24-hour SP 3T Class two years in-a-row. The #106 2016 Subaru WRX STI NBR ran flawlessly in spite of the wet conditions at the Nurburgring. Congratulations to Subaru, STI and the drivers for back-to-back wins.

Source: Subaru

Image source: Subaru