Leveraging a two-month lull after the first event of the 2012 GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge series, the Subaru Road Racing Team (SRRT) travels to Birmingham, Al., after a productive period identifying and completing refinements on their #35 Subaru WRX STI 4-door race car in preparation for this highly-anticipated race. This weekend’s event will be run on the popular, 2.3-mile Barber Motorsports Park circuit.
Andrew Aquilante, Chester Springs, Pa., and Bret Spaude, Bushnell, Fl., will share cockpit duties in the race-prepped, 2012 Subaru WRX STI developed specifically to compete in a field of road racing cars developing over 400 horsepower.
“Superior horsepower is always advantageous,” said Joe Aquilante, principal of Phoenix Performance in Phoenixville, Pa., where the SRRT Subaru race units are prepped and maintained, “but the Subaru symmetrical all-wheel drive system in our WRX STI is a great benefit on a twisting, hilly track such as this one and negates the power of the V8-engined cars. We led laps during last year’s race at Barber [Motorsports Park], and our competitive lap times in January at the race at Daytona [International Speedway] drive our confidence.”
“On the twisting infield portions of the Daytona track,” noted driver Andrew Aquilante, “Bret and I were able to outmaneuver most of the field in our Subaru. We expect Barber to be more of the same.”
Added James Han, motorsports marketing manager for Subaru of America, Inc., “We’re encouraged that the pace from our STI is both competitive and also repeatable lap after lap, and I’m looking forward to our team’s performance at Barber.”
Qualifying is Friday at 10:50am (ET). The 2 1/2-hour race takes the green flag Saturday at 5:15pm (ET). The Barber Park race will be televised by SPEED TV for broadcast on April 8th at 12:00pm (ET).