Luca Rangoni to drive Subaru WRX STi in Portugal

Luca Rangoni will return behind the wheel of the Top Run Subaru WRX STi TCR at Estoril after the Italian team’s project received a boost from Team Manager Renato Russo’s visit to Fuji Heavy Industries.

“We were invited by Makoto Shimamura, managing director of all Subaru motorsports activities,” said Russo. “I met him and Yosuke Takahashi, who is in charge to follow the TCR programme.”

A growing interest in Japan is behind the meeting: “Shimamura-san congratulated us for the far-sightedness in committing with the Subaru brand to the TCR International Series that is already creating a growing interest in Japan with teams and fans. As a matter of fact, this meeting was prompted following different enquiries about TCR that Subaru STi received from the Japanese media.”

Top Run are expecting to make full use of the co-operation with Subaru’s STi department to deliver the car’s final spec in Monza next month.

Rangoni was the first driver behind the wheel of the Japanese car during its debut in Singapore last year, before leaving the seat to touring car star Alain Menu. Former Superstars front-runner Luigi Ferrara drove the car in the opening round of the 2016 series in Bahrain at the start of the month.