Subaru Tecnica International (STI) is entering a custom-tuned Impreza WRX STI in next month’s 24-hour race at Germany’s famed Nürburgring circuit.

The campaign from May 12 to 16 will be under the direct supervision of STI President Takeshi Tachimori.

The race uses a combination of the 5.1 kilometre Grand Prix track, used by F1 and DTM events, and the 20.8 km Nordschleife, also known as the Old Course, which Subaru and STI use for vehicle development and testing.

The Nordschleife is a rigorous and highly demanding road course, with a 300-metre elevation change and over 170 turns. Every year, more than 200 cars participate in the 24 hour race, with a focus on touring cars.

STI participated in the 2009 Nürburgring 24-hour race, completing 133 laps (approximately 3375 km) and placing fifth in the SP3T class (for vehicles with turbocharged engines of up to two litres). The latest Impreza WRX STI will be entered in the same class again.

This year’s model incorporates several improvements based on last year’s experience. They include a significant weight decrease and lower centre of gravity, an increase in drivability, more responsive handling, increased engine power and optimized transmission gear ratios.

In charge of bringing the team together is STI’s head of vehicle testing, Hideharu Tatsumi.

The team will feature an international line-up with Japanese drivers Kazuo Shimizu, who has extensive experience racing at the Nürburgring, Toshihiro Yoshida, making his fourth appearance at the 24 hours, Dutchman Carlo van Dam, who helped to demonstrate the speed of the Impreza GT300 in SUPER GT in 2008, with a local German driver, still to be announced, rounding out the quartet.

Project name: STI NBR CHALLENGE 2010
Entrant name: SUBARU TECNICA INTERNATIONAL
Participating car: Subaru Impreza WRX STI (GRB) 2.0-litre EJ20 type DOHC turbocharged four-cylinder Boxer engine, with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive.
Vehicle Preparation: STI