Mitch Williams and Alix Hakala from Colorado made a strong early season run at the AWD (All-Wheel-Drive) championship by winning the Pacific Division’s Idaho Rally in June. They followed up with an impressive run at the challenging Gorman Rally in California netting another first place. With two wins under their belts their results at Arizona’s Prescott Rally were immaterial but they still soldiered on to a strong third place.

With their points total at the top of the chart Mitch and Alix merely had to take the start at the International Rally New York finale to secure their first national championship. A rented Audi provided that start but unfortunately several flat tires and broken wheels on the first stage put them out of the event. Even with this DNF their championship was secure.

In the second place in the AWD championship was the husband and wife team of Chris and Lori O’Driscoll, also from Colorado. A second at Gorman and a ninth at Prescott qualified this team for the finale. They made the trek to New York and DNFed late in the event but still clinched a podium spot in the championship.

Third in the AWD championship and making it a Pacific Division sweep was the team of Alex Rademacher and Jeanna Yi. Solid finishes kept this team in contention all season.

In the 2WD (Two-Wheel-Drive) championship it was all Atlantic Division teams. The duo of Michael Reilly and Josh Benthien scored an early season win at Rally New York USA assuring their participation at the finale. At the final round they scored an impressive overall stage win on the first stage beating several top AWD competitors. They kept the pressure on throughout the event but transmission troubles caused a first day DNF. Using the USRC’s SuperRally rules, they were able to restart the rally on Sunday assuring a finish and their spot atop the 2WD championship podium.

Second in the 2WD championship was the team of Erik Potts and Steven Case. They scored a second at Rally New York USA and edged out Reilly/Benthien at the finale to score second place for the season.

In the third place in the 2WD championship was the always-consistent team of Erika Detota and Travis Hanson.

The United States Rally Championship wishes to thank all those that participated in the 2011 championship season. Please watch for an announcement of the 2012 championship calendar in the next few weeks.

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Will Hudson/Brian Szykowny took early command of the event winning every stage Friday night outright. Even through rain soaked stages Hudson was able to pull out a lead of over 2 minutes. A spectacular near-off on the 21 mile Perkinsview stage 5 Saturday morning would eventually lead to multiple flats and a fall off the leader board. This allowed event sponsor Brian Scott/Steven Taylor to take over the lead but an unexpected co-driver change took them out of contention.

This turn of events allowed Sterckx/Jankowski to continue to push to the win just over a minute and a half ahead of former Prescott resident Mike Whitman with co-driver Piers O’Hanlon. Third overall was the team of Mitchell Williams/Alix Hakala who have all but wrapped up the USRC’s Open AWD championship.

Open 2WD was all the Michel Hoche-Mong/Sameer Parekh show. This duo knows the roads at Prescott very well and were never seriously challenged. Early second place contenders Eddie Fiorelli/Tom Smith had a light roll on Saturday’s Firstville stage. This led to a broken spindle a mile later and a DNF. This opened the door for the steady Chuck Wilson with 2009 USRC Open AWD champion co-driver Mara Estep to take second. A limping Jen Imai/Terry Stonecipher came home third.

Production AWD produced one of the tightest battles of the weekend with second time rallyists Michael Carnes/Reza Yazdani in their Audi edging out Katianna Pihakari/John Dillon for the win. Rookies Leelyn Pritchard/Desirae Huls came home third with many thanks to their supportive family.

Teams now move to the finale’ at the International Rally New York October 22 and 23. Pacific Division teams will be invited with a free entry to the event where the final champions will be crowned.

Additional event information is available at www.prescottrally.com

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The USRC has always appreciated the time and investment required for teams to compete for a national championship. Sadly, many championship point formulas favor teams that can invest a huge amount of both time and capital. That is why the USRC has designed a structure and events that allow more teams the opportunity to compete at a national level. This season, competitors are allowed to count one out of Division event towards their championship points total. This way a team that misses an event in their local Division due to a schedule conflict or suffers from a poor finish can attempt to better their position by attending events outside their home Division.

In a bold move to encourage more head-to-head competition while holding down the costs to teams, the USRC is providing some added incentives. This season, teams competing outside their home division will be given a free entry to any out of Division event they enter. These incentives also include the final round of the Championship that is being held in the Atlantic Division at the International Rally New York in October.

The 2011 United States Rally Championship is comprised of five events with three rallies in the Pacific Division and two in the Atlantic Division. Rally New York USA, on March 25 and 26, offers competitors their first chance to score valuable USRC championship points. This all-tarmac event will challenge competitors on 100 stage miles of paved surfaces. The event is headquartered in Walton and Monticello, New York.

The Championship then heads out West for Rally Idaho, June 18-19 followed by the Gorman Ridge Rally on August 26-27 in California. The last event for the Pacific Division is the Prescott Rally in Arizona on September 30-October 1 before moving back east for the final round at International Rally New York on October 22-23.

Additional event information is available at www.USRallyChampionship.com

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Tom Lawless is the 2010 United States Rally Champion – Driver in the All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) category. This is the second time Tom Lawless won the Championship; his first National Championship Title came in 2005. During the 2010 season, Tom drove with several co-drivers. He won Prescott Rally and secured his Championship Title with Bernard Farrell in the co-driver’s seat.

For the second year in a row, Marra Estep is the 2010 United States Rally Champion – Co-Driver in AWD category.

Erika Detota is the 2010 United States Rally Champion – Driver in the Two-Wheel-Drive (2WD) category. This is the first time in the history of North American rallying that women won National Titles for Drivers.

Jason Smith is the 2010 United States Rally Champion – Co-Driver in 2WD category. Jason is Erika’s Co-Driver.

The Winners of the USRC AWD Production Cup are Katianna Pihakari – AWD Driver, another woman to win a National Title, and Austin Gager – AWD Co-Driver.

The Winners of the USRC 2WD Production Cup are Jeff Hendricks – 2WD Driver and John Stewart – 2WD Co-Driver.

The first three competitors in each category are as follows:

USRC AWD Championship – Drivers:
1. Tom Lawless – 2010 USRC Champion
2. Keith Jackson
3. Enda McCormack

USRC AWD Championship – Co-Drivers:
1. Marra Estep – 2010 USRC Champion
2. Eric Olson
3. Tommy Doyle

USRC 2WD Championship – Drivers:
1. Erika Detota – 2010 USRC Champion
2. John Black
3. Jeff Hendricks

USRC 2WD Championship – Co-Drivers:
1. Jason Smith – 2010 USRC Champion
2. Sean Gallagher
3. John Stewart

USRC AWD Production Cup – Drivers:
1. Katianna Pihakari – 2010 USRC Production Cup Winner
2. Kevin Welker
3. Matt Gottlieb

USRC AWD Production Cup – Co-Drivers:
1. Austin Gager – 2010 USRC Production Cup Winner
2. Brian McNamara
3. John Dillon

USRC 2WD Production Cup – Drivers:
1. Jeff Hendricks – 2010 USRC Production Cup Winner
2. John Black
3. Alex Rademacher

USRC 2WD Production Cup – Co-Drivers:
1. John Stewart – 2010 USRC Production Cup Winner
2. Brent Ellzey
3. Steve McKelvie

The United States Rally Championship will continue its bold steps to make national competition more affordable and accessible to a larger number of rally teams. The Championship structure minimizes or, for many teams, eliminates the need for repeated cross-country travel during the Championship season by providing competition on each side of the country. The final round of the Championship at the end of the year counts both in the Atlantic Division and the Pacific Division and together with the results from all previous rounds decides the top spots in the Championship.

The 2010 United States Rally Championship season consisted of a combination of snow, gravel and tarmac events. Events of the United States Rally Championship allow for reconnaissance and pace notes. Tarmac, full reconnaissance and pace notes make the United States Rally Championship unique in North America as no other series in North America encompasses all these features. More information on the United States Rally Championship is available at www.usrallychampionship.com.

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The Prescott Rally is known for picturesque long stages with a mixture of fast, flowing terrain, varying surface conditions and some of the most extreme drop-offs in the series. “The stages were fantastic but mentally challenging, these are the longest and most difficult stages I have ever run,” said Erika. “We ran two of Friday’s night stages along really dangerous sections of the road, and the dust made it so hard to see that we could only use low beams.”

In addition to a Championship win and podium finish, the team also received the Carl Merrill Sportsmanship Award. The memorial is in remembrance of the accomplished and beloved rally driver who tragically passed at Prescott Rally 12 years ago and is given annually to the team who best embodies the spirit of the past champion. The honor is “beyond words” said the team “and is truly a special accomplishment for us to continue Merrill’s legacy.”

The 2010 season, Detota’s first as a driver, proved to be an “unqualified success” said Smith, himself an accomplished driver. “It has been a pleasure to watch Erika grow as a driver.”

USRC is unique by offering events in 2 regions with a championship rally allowing Atlantic and Pacific teams to compete for titles. Detota and Smith participated in the Atlantic division where they raced on 3 surfaces this year. From ice, tarmac to gravel this team showed strength in quickly adapting to diversity of terrain for an impressive first year.

Erika and Jason would like to congratulate their fellow champions in the 2010 USRC season and thank their supporters and sponsors: Broken Motorsports for helping to maintain and build our car as well as providing much needed crew support, Robert Cella for his generous investment in the team, Big Boulder Park, RallyArmor, Team O’Neil and Keep A Breast Foundation.

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Periods of lightning and heavy rain doused the cars and competitors at the Parc Expose, but spirits were high as racing started on Friday October 1st only hours after recce was completed. Keith got off to a very strong start with a stage win on the first stage of the rally. The sun set and dark began to set in on stage 2. Driving lights blazing, he and Marra managed to keep things very close with the other championship front runners. It wasn’t until the third stage (Witty Tom South) when the rally gods stepped in to make things more difficult.

This particular stage of the rally had several rock filled dips which could wreak havoc on a car’s suspension and tires. A puncture on Stage 3 in one of these dips found the team playing catch up for the remainder of the event. The competition was so close between the podium contenders that this kind of setback would be extremely tough to recover from.

“The first thing that went through my head was ‘No!!!’. We actually hit pretty hard and I thought there was more damage to the car beyond a puncture. I knew the event was going to be very difficult to win, and this was devastating” recalls a disappointed Keith.

The second day of competition was in daylight, and the weather was pleasant. Even with time being shaved off the leaders on each stage, it was not enough to regain the first place spot from Tom Lawless. Keith and Marra put in an amazing hustle to make up the deficit but it was simply too much time to reclaim. Keith managed to finish 4th overall for this rally, which secured a 2nd place spot for the championship. Marra Estep was able to claim the first place co-driver spot by totaling the most points throughout the season!

In retrospect, a flat tire was much better than a race ending off. This was the case last year when the team was unable to continue after damage was sustained to the front and rear suspension.

“All in all, I think we did pretty well making up time and we kept it on the road this year!” mentioned Marra.

The service crew had only basic tasks to perform during service breaks, as the Subaru was performing flawlessly. Fortunately, there was no damage inflicted to the car on any of the final stages of day two and it left Prescott in good condition ready for more rallies in 2011.

The DIRT and crew would like to thank all the volunteers and organizers for putting on an amazing event. Without them we would not have a rally to participate in. These men and women work hard in challenging and difficult conditions to make this possible for guys like us. If you have a chance to volunteer at a local rally event, take advantage of it. Not only will you be supporting your local rally scene, but you’ll be up close to the action!

Photos by Phil Stewart-Jones & Eli Gilbert

About DirtyImpreza.com:
Based out of Aliso Viejo, CA., DirtyImpreza.com is the fastest growing Subaru Impreza specific off-road and rally website in North America. The DirtyImpreza.com Rally Team (DIRT) is involved in grassroots racing from rally cross to stage rally competition. For more information about DirtyImpreza.com and DIRT, visit DirtyImpreza.com or email contact@dirtyimpreza.com

About JacksonRally:
Located in Temecula, CA, JacksonRally has been in the fabrication business for over 10 years with the last 3 years specializing in building and racing rally cars. JacksonRally has a strong passion for off-road Subarus from its very own Rally Team to the infamous “Battle Wagon”, for more information about JacksonRally, please email us at JacksonRally@gmail.com

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In the Atlantic Division and overall, the Irish crew of Daniel O’Brien, a former Eastern States Champion, and Brendan McCabe in a Subaru Impreza is leading the AWD Championship at midseason. They have been steadily climbing in the standings by finishing fourth at Rally New York USA and second at Rally Tennessee. Another Irish team of Tom Lawless with co-driver Brian Sharkey, who flies in for the USRC events all the way from Ireland, in a Mitsubishi Lancer is second after winning Rally Tennessee. Ken Block and Alex Gelsomino, in a Subaru Impreza, two-time winners of Rally New York USA are third in the AWD Championship. In the Pacific Division, Keith Jackson and Marra Estep in a Subaru Impreza are leading after winning Rally Idaho. Two more Subaru teams of Paul Eklund with Jeff Price and Byron Garth with Ron Crawford are second and third.

In the 2WD Championship in the Atlantic Division and overall, the Irishmen Dan Brosnan and Shane McCann in Nissan Sentra are leading after winning Rally New York USA and placing second at Rally Tennessee. They are the 2008 USRC runner-ups in the 2WD category. Josh and Jeremy Wimpey in a Volkswagen GTi are second with a second place at Rally Idaho. Wimpey brothers are the 2007 USRC runner-ups in the 2WD category. Brad Morris and Doug Nagy in a 2WD Mitsubishi Lancer are third. They won Rally Tennessee. In the Pacific Division, Lauchlin O’Sullivan, a former Mitsubishi USA Team driver, with co-driver Karen Wagner in a Dodge SRT-4 are leading after winning Rally Idaho. Aurimas and Amy Bakchis in an Eagle Talon are second and Cody Crane with Patrick Darrow in a Honda CRX are third.

Subaru driver William Petrow is leading the AWD Production Cup in the Atlantic Division with a win at Rally New York USA and a second place at Rally Tennessee. The leading co-driver is Austin Gager who has placed third and fourth in the previous events. Another Subaru crew of Byron Garth and Ron Crawford is leading the AWD Production Cup in the Pacific Division.

Michael Reilly and Josh Benthien in a Ford Focus SVT are in the first place in the 2WD Production Cup in the Atlantic Division. Alex Rademacher and John Stewart in a 2WD Subaru Impreza are leading the 2WD Production Cup in the Pacific Division.

The United States Rally Championship will continue with the remaining events that include Gorman Ridge Rally (www.gormanridgerally.com) in California, Prescott Rally (www.prescottrally.com) in Arizona and the final round of the Championship – International Rally New York (www.rallynewyork.com).

Pacific Division teams are competing for coveted cash travel subsidies that will be awarded to top six teams in the Division. The total of $12,000 in subsidies will be distributed to Pacific Division teams to assist them with travelling to the final round of the United States Rally Championship in New York.

The United States Rally Championship is taking bold steps to make national competition more affordable and accessible to a larger number of rally teams. This is the third season of the new Championship structure that minimizes or, for many teams, eliminates the need for repeated cross-country travel during the Championship season by providing competition on each side of the country. The final round of the Championship at the end of the year counts both in the Atlantic Division and the Pacific Division and together with the results from all previous rounds decides the top spots in the Championship.

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David Alan with Ben Slocum in their handsome, black Subaru Impreza WRX won the Production All-Wheel-Drive Cup classification and placed fifth overall. Only 16 seconds behind was a new team of William Petrow and Jeremy Neyhart in Subaru Impreza WRX. Petrow, with a different co-driver, Vincent Nguyen, won the Production Cup classification at the previous round – Rally New York USA. Scott Wilburn and Aaron Crescenti, who were battling engine issues in their Subaru Impreza WRX throughout the rally, were third.

Brad Morris and Doug Nagy in a Two-Wheel-Drive Mitsubishi Lancer won the Two-Wheel-Drive category, Dan Brosnan and Shane McCann, winners of Two-Wheel-Drive category at Rally New York USA, in a Nissan Sentra took second, and Andrew Frick and Ryan Scott in a Ford Focus placed third. Robert Maunz with Mark Sackett won the Two-Wheel-Drive Production Cup classification.

After Rally Tennessee, the Championship will continue with five gravel rounds – Idaho Rally International, Rally West Virginia, Gorman Ridge Rally (California), Prescott Rally (Arizona) and the final round – International Rally New York. Most rounds of the Championship allow for reconnaissance of the rally course and pacenoting.

The United States Rally Championship, now in its fifth season, is taking bold steps to make national competition more affordable and accessible to a larger number of rally teams. This is the third season of the new Championship structure that minimizes or, for many teams, eliminates the need for repeated cross-country travel during the Championship season by providing competition on each side of the country. The final round of the Championship at the end of the year counts both in the Atlantic Division and the Pacific Division and together with the results from all previous rounds decides the top spots in the Championship. The highest-scoring six teams from the USRC Pacific Division are eligible for the coveted cash travel subsidies totaling $12,000 to attend the final round in New York.

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At the finish, Burke/Fries were three minutes ahead of Seamus’s son Joseph Burke and co-driver Ole Holter (Subaru Impreza WRX). Holter noted at the finish, that this was only the younger Burke’s second outing in a powerful turbocharged, all-wheel-drive car – and in the first he won the Black River Stages Rally in Upstate New York.

Celsus Donnelly/Barry Smyth (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo) had been a solid second for most of the rally. But with two special stages remaining, the car engine failed, apparently due to head gasket failure.

Brian Scott/John Dillon (Subaru Impreza WRX) finished third, after a cool performance in which they went just fast enough for a top finish – sufficient to take the all-wheel-drive category title in the U.S. Rally Championship.

The two-wheel-drive (2WD) category in the rally was taken by the husband-wife team of Kristopher and Christine Marciniak (Dodge Neon), who also won the 2WD division of the U.S. Rally Championship. They were followed to the finish by Dan Brosnan/Shane McCann (Nissan Sentra) and the father-son team of Simon and Kieran Wright (Ford Focus).

Hampton Bridwell/Josh Katinger (Ford Focus SVT) were in contention with Marciniak/Marciniak early in the rally, for both the 2WD win and championship. But when the Ford slid off the road on the first day, the team was forced to “play catch-up.” They were closing on the leaders again when they rolled the car – without harm to themselves, but it put them out of the rally.

International Rally New York was the final round of the United States Rally Championship and the New York Rally Championship. It began in Callicoon, New York on Thursday evening, and ended in nearby Walton this evening.

For further information, check the event web site, www.rallynewyork.com.

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