CHERRY HILL, N.J., Feb. 2, 2015 / -- The 2015 WRX STI made a perfect Rally America National Championship debut at the Sno*Drift Rally, with Subaru Rally Team USA driver David Higgins winning all 17 stages on his way to a dominating victory. The defending Rally America Champion Higgins, with co-driver Craig Drew, overcame the Sno*Drift Rally's treacherous snow and ice covered roads with aplomb, running trouble free and full of confidence by the performance characteristics of the new 2015 WRX STI rally car prepared by Subaru technical partner Vermont SportsCar.
Subaru vehicles not only swept the podium but also locked out the top five overall positions at the Sno*Drift Rally, a testament to the road gripping performance of Subaru Symmetrical All Wheel Drive® on the most demanding of road conditions.
"It's really impressive to run a full race with a brand new car and not have any problems or setup changes whatsoever. It's a testament to Vermont SportsCar's attention to detail and preparation" explained David Higgins. "The engineering and improvements that have gone into the new chassis are as evident on a rally stage as they are on the street. I think it's a brilliant car and I can't wait for the rest of the season!"
The Sno*Drift Rally was held on over 120 miles of snow and ice-covered roads in northern Michigan. Constantly changing weather and road conditions make this rally one of the most challenging in the series. Rally America rules also prohibit the use of spiked or studded ice tires at Sno*Drift, placing a premium on road traction and making grip levels treacherously variable.
"The Sno*Drift Rally is always such a challenge to even finish and stay on the road. It's one of those events that the biggest challenge is not the other drivers but the stages themselves. The conditions are always changing and the grip levels without spiked tires are so low and always different from one corner to the next," explains David Higgins.
Subaru Rally Team USA heads next to the high-speed gravel roads of The Rally in the 100 Acre Wood, held near Salem, Missouri on February 27-28.
Subaru Rally Team USA is managed by Subaru technical partner Vermont SportsCar. For more information please visit www.vtcar.com