Recap: Red Bull GRC Karting Challenge fueled by Subaru STi

Last Thursday K1 Speed Torrance hosted Subaru Rally Team USA including Red Bull Global Rallycross drivers & fans for a fun night of karting before the LA Port doubleheader in San Pedro.

Drivers David Higgins, Travis Pastrana, Bucky Lasek, Patrik Sandell, Geoff Sykes, Tanner Whitten, Alex Keyes, Conner Martell and special guest Matt Crafton went head-to-head with fans around our technical kart track. 24 racers in all took part in the karting challenge with fans looking on track side. They didn’t disappoint!

The race format for the night was taken from GRC with practice, heats, semifinals, LCQ and final. Not only was there a lot of karting action on the track, Local Motors out of Phoenix, AZ brought out their Verrado Drift Trikes for drivers and fans to test out on our track and parking lot. “How fun is this?! I get to race some of my favorite drivers in GRC and hop into a super cool electric drift trike on the kart track. What else would you want from an event?” – K1 Racer.

With the karting challenge going on indoors, outdoors we saw the Subaru interactive trailer with Bucky Lasek’s GRC display car. This trailer was also displayed over the weekend at the LA Port race alongside local Subaru dealers and legacy cars. Local Subaru car groups joined in on the fun displaying their rides in the front entrance. A drift trike demo track was also setup outdoors with plenty of space for fans to whip around the parking lot. Royal Purple was also onsite giving away tshirts, lanyards and koozies to fans in attendance.

In the final race we saw a lot strategy with Kc Cook starting in pole and Travis and Bucky just behind him. In a fun 16-lap race we saw the following on the podium…

1st place – Kc Cook
2nd place – Travis Pastrana
3rd place – Bucky Lasek

What a great night! The Port doubleheader didn’t fair too well for Team Subaru but we wish them good luck in Barbados and Las Vegas.