The ESX Motorsports Subaru WRX STI SPEED GT team has elected to skip the Sears Point round of the SCCA SPEED World Challenge series to focus on the continuing and successful development of their SPEED GT STI. The team is working towards a return for the next West Coast event, the October 19-22 Laguna Seca ALMS/SPEED GT finale.

Many new areas of development--brakes, brake ducting, suspension, electronics, weight reduction, engine mapping, a new 2006 body, wider wheels, damper developments, and multiple days of track testing are all planned.

Team owner Ali Afshar, Driver Gary Sheehan, and Team Manager Marshall Pruett all look forward to the car and team returning when the car is primed for racing with no limitations. "I'm really happy with the direction we're going with the car, and with the improvements the SCCA has given us, I'm sure we'll turn a few heads when the STI hits the track" said Sheehan.

Plans are also in progress for the STI to compete in any Time Attacks that fit into the team's schedule, and to improve upon the 3rd place overall the team and car achieved in the 2005 25hrs of Thunderhill event. The 2006 25hrs of Thunderhill takes place December 1-3.

New avenues and opportunities also exist for interested vendors, sponsors, and partners to join the SPEED GT effort for Laguna Seca, and for the 2006 25hrs event.

More info on the team can be found HERE (http://www.esxmotorsports.com/roadracing.htm), inquiries can be made HERE (ali@esxmotorsports.com)

Thanks for the info

I can't wait to see that STI pouring down the Corkscrew. Keep charging!

Hello,

Dang, Marshall, that really sucks that you guys can't make Infineon. We wish you the best of luck at Laguna and will be at the race to cheer you, Gary, and the ESX STI on. Subarus will one day (soon) dominate American Road Racing!!!

Joel
Crew
GOTO:Racing
Grand Am Cup ST
Subaru Legacy GT

It was to nice see the Volvo do well at Mid Ohio. So it looks like SCCA Pro will also help the Subaru get up to speed.

It's good you guys will get out and do some development and testing. Keep us posted with your progress.

Hello,

Dang, Marshall, that really sucks that you guys can't make Infineon. We wish you the best of luck at Laguna and will be at the race to cheer you, Gary, and the ESX STI on. Subarus will one day (soon) dominate American Road Racing!!!

Joel
Crew
GOTO:Racing
Grand Am Cup ST
Subaru Legacy GT
Thanks Joel. With the new marketing VP headed back to Subaru from his stint as marketing VP at Porsche, I can only hope he infuses Subaru with the road racing spirit his former employer is renown for.

I'd love to see the day when SOA supported STI's, Legacy's, and WRX's mark the road racing landscape.

You have our suppport and I'll be watching the race when it happens. Best of luck to the team. And thanks! GO SCOOBY! :banana:

With the new marketing VP headed back to Subaru from his stint as marketing VP at Porsche, I can only hope he infuses Subaru with the road racing spirit his former employer is renown for.

I'd love to see the day when SOA supported STI's, Legacy's, and WRX's mark the road racing landscape.

We'd love to see it too.

Hey, best of luck with the test days, get that car up top!

<disappointed>
Infineon is a Sheehan track for sure...
<shrug>

So by saying "new areas of development: brakes" you mean "make them functional this time" :lol:

i keed i keed!!! :lol: :D

Best of luck guys and keep on keepin on. Are you at liberty to give a little more detail on what SCCA has allowed as far as changes to the car? I was under the impression they were going to be a lot more conservative as far as new vehicles were concerned in getting them up to speed.

It'll be sad to have to wait til October, but us here on the east coast will be rootin for ya!

You have our suppport and I'll be watching the race when it happens. Best of luck to the team. And thanks! GO SCOOBY! :banana:
+1 You have my support as well! Go Scooby, Gary & ESX!!!!! :banana:

Bring it to Petit! I'll make sure the whole crew is well fed all weekend.

So by saying "new areas of development: brakes" you mean "make them functional this time" :lol:

i keed i keed!!! :lol: :D



I looked through my notes, and don't see that Gary ever requested functioning brakes. It's must be his fault then... :p

Newly mandated competition upgrades:

>>26psi of boost (up from 22). Same as the Volvo
>>-100 lbs (to 3050). Same as the Viper Comp Coupes
>>305 Toyo's (from 275's), provided we can fit them. If not, Toyo doesn't make anything inbetween their 275 and 305, so we'll have to stick with the 275.

APR finished the 2006 widebody last night, so we're hoping to get it fitted and the 305's massaged into place.

That's great news Marshall!
Now that you guys are better armed for the battle it should make for a interesting and (hopefully) surprising outcome. Best of luck to you guys! I'll do my best to come out and support. When are you guys starting testing?

That's great news Marshall!
Now that you guys are better armed for the battle it should make for a interesting and (hopefully) surprising outcome. Best of luck to you guys! I'll do my best to come out and support. When are you guys starting testing?
Hey Vlad--late July/early August is the target. That might get moved out a little bit, but our focus is on doing everything that's needed, not rushing out to test.

There are a few SCCA regionals at Laguna prior to the GT weekend, so we'd look to take in those events for final preparations. Other than that, Thunderhill would be the primary testing spot.

...focus is on doing everything that's needed, not rushing out to test...

woah woah woah! Are you sure you guys are a racing team? I thought it was a requirement that you be rebuilding the engine and finish bleeding the brand new brakes while on grid... :D

Call me a whuss, and while I enjoy reading stories about "many sleepless nights before the event" and "I can't even remember what we did for the last 6 hours prior to race start" and I DO give those teams a TON of credit, don't get me wrong, but those stories scare the hell out of me.

Too many times drivers strap themselves into a rocket of a car and have to think, "Hmmm the 4 guys who just poured their heart and soul into this machine over the last 72 hours straight have not had an hour of sleep, have been underfed, probably can't see straight, are bleeding on every hand... Oh well, I assume they tightened everything down... BOOM!"

I admire you guys for not pushing bull-headed through the difficulties of development "just to run the race" or "get out there and test test test!" and instead are taking the slow and steady approach. I think the hare stories are all well and good, and I KNOW that racing takes dedication and sleepless nights and busted knuckles, but sometimes you just gotta step back and be the tortoise and say, "we're just not going to make this race."

Can't wait to see pics if you manage to stuff the 305's in there

Newly mandated competition upgrades:

>>26psi of boost (up from 22). Same as the Volvo
>>-100 lbs (to 3050). Same as the Viper Comp Coupes
>>305 Toyo's (from 275's), provided we can fit them. If not, Toyo doesn't make anything inbetween their 275 and 305, so we'll have to stick with the 275.

APR finished the 2006 widebody last night, so we're hoping to get it fitted and the 305's massaged into place.
Nice. Keep us updated with pics of your progress if at all possible. I can't wait to see that '06 widebody!!!! :devil:

Hope you're able to make those 305's fit - I'm sure Gary will find a use for that extra grip on the track!!!! ;)

Many new areas of development--brakes, brake ducting, suspension setup and geometry, electronics, weight reduction, engine mapping, a new 2006 body, wider wheels, damper developments, and multiple days of track testing are all planned.



fixed ;)

You got pics of the goods.

fixed ;)

You got pics of the goods.
Amen. Let me know when you're ready to ship them, baby...

I admire you guys for not pushing bull-headed through the difficulties of development "just to run the race" or "get out there and test test test!" and instead are taking the slow and steady approach. I think the hare stories are all well and good, and I KNOW that racing takes dedication and sleepless nights and busted knuckles, but sometimes you just gotta step back and be the tortoise and say, "we're just not going to make this race."
Then again, there's ALWAYS something to be done or improved and you can say that before every single race. Or you can fix and improve what you can in the time you have before every single race.

Just bummed.

woah woah woah! Are you sure you guys are a racing team?They want to be like Cadillac. :cool:

They want to be like Cadillac. :cool:
No, just win like them.

Then again, there's ALWAYS something to be done or improved and you can say that before every single race. Or you can fix and improve what you can in the time you have before every single race.

Just bummed.

Agreed...

Get money, get racing, and demonstrate to SCCA and fellow Competitors that the desired performance requests asked for are Earned by dedication and commitment to the series. I would be PISSED SHOCKED HORRIFIED if I was Lou Gigliotti,say, and find the Easy Street Motorsports STI on the podium in their second (and last) race of the season with SCCA help.

BriDrive