WINTER STORM ADDS CHALLENGES TO THIS WEEKEND'S RALLY IN THE 100 ACRE WOOD

Company press release.

Salem, MO, Feb 22, 2013 - Subaru Rally Team USA returns to the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood this weekend with defending Rally America Champion David Higgins at the wheel of his 2013 Subaru WRX STI. The Rally in the 100 Acre Wood represents round two of the 2013 Rally America National Championship and is now in its 11th consecutive year set in Missouri's Ozark foothills. The event's fast and flowing gravel roads have earned it the reputation as one of the fastest rallies in the USA, but it's also known for wildly unpredictable weather conditions, which will surely be the storyline this year. A massive winter storm moving through the American Midwest has covered the event's roads wit several inches of ice and snow.

The winter storm will clear the area ahead of the 1:30pm (CST, UTC-6) Friday start time, but many of the roads are expected to stay covere in ice as temperatures will continue to hover near or just above freezing throughout the weekend. The treacherous conditions will mean tire choice, driving skill, and bravery will be the deciding factors on the results sheets for the 63 entered teams.

'The weather will play a big factor here. The roads are now covered with a layer of ice and snow so it's going to be a huge challenge for everyone,' explained Higgins Thursday evening after completing reconnaissance of the stage roads. 'These roads are so fast that as you run them each year you get faster and faster, it's really about experience here. This will be my third time here and it's the only event in the Rally America Championship that I have not won. I hope this can be our year but at same time championships are won over the whole year, not at a single event.'

The two-day Rally in the 100 Acre Wood is based in Salem, Missouri and the competitive stages will take place Feb. 22 - 23. The event features approximately 129 miles of competitive stages. Friday's route will include approximately 51 miles of competitive stages while the bu of the event will be run on Saturday with the remaining 78 miles of stages. Competition will start at 1:30pm CST Friday.

To keep up with Subaru Rally Team USA throughout the rally follow the team on Twitte@r:srtusa and visit subaru.com/rally each day for exclusive photo galleries and news.

About Subaru Rally Team USA

Subaru Rally Team USA is managed by Vermont SportsCar and proudly supported by Subaru of America, Inc., Subaru Tecnica International (STI), Subaru Performance Tuning (SPT), PUMA, BFGoodrich Tires, RECARO, PIAA, Exedy, Race Proven, and MOTUL. For more information on Subaru Rally Team USA, as well as exclusive photo and video galleries, visistubaru.com/rally and for the latest news follow the team on Twitter@: srtusa.

About Subaru of America, Inc.

Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 600 dealers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill production plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc. is the only U.S. automobile production plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. For additional information visit www.subaru.com.