The SUBARU PUMA RallyCross Team USA hauler rolled onto the grounds of Charlotte Motor Speedway early Wednesday morning. The crew immediately got to work testing the cars and making preparations for the first round of the 2012 Global RallyCross Championship. This monumental event takes place under the banner of the Coca-Cola 600 Race Weekend. Marking the first time a RallyCross race has taken place in conjunction with a NASCAR event, GRC will be gaining a new audience of horsepower-addicted motorsports fans, this time in a stadium that seats 140,000.
SUBARU PUMA RallyCross Team USA is fielding a lineup of three 2012 Subaru WRX STIs in matching PUMA skeleton liveries.
Three-time European RallyCross Champion Sverre Isachsen has signed on to pilot the #11 Subaru Impreza WRX STI at the Global RallyCross events. He made his ERC debut in 2002 and was a top contender from day one. Through his unmatched determination, driving skills and event tactics he became known as The Viking Warrior. In 2009 the competition was unable to keep up and Sverre Isachsen s domination of the ERC series began. His experience will be an invaluable asset to the growth of SUBARU PUMA RallyCross Team USA.
Dave Mirra returns to pilot the #40 WRX STI. A strong contender in past RallyCross events, Mirra thrives in the close-quarters combat of the sport.
In car #81, the third member of the team is Bucky Lasek. Best known for his skills on a skateboard, 12 Times X Games Skateboard Vert Medalist Lasek began began his competitive driving training at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah, and continued perfecting his technique at the prestigious Skip Barber Racing and Tim O Neil s Rally schools. In 2009, he began competing in the MMRP Mustang Challenge Series where he consistently placed top 2 in every race. Bucky also began an intensive rally training regimen at the Dirt Fish Rally School in Snoqualmie, Washington, where he honed his all-wheel-drive skills at the helm of Subaru WRX STI rally cars.
On Friday, teams completed Practice and Qualifying, and the real action starts Saturday after the History 300. Global RallyCross Heats start at 6:45PM followed by the GRC Finals at 8:22PM. Tickets and information are available at charlottemotorspeedway.com.
