Antoine L’Estage and co-driver Nathalie Richard from St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec in their new Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution are one step closer to winning the 2009 Canadian Rally Championship after finishing in second place at the Pacific Forest Rally, the fifth round of the season. L’Estage and Richard fought hard in each of the 15 speed stages and were 0.6 second from the lead after 11 stages. Meanwhile, Jan and Jody Zedril from Winnipeg locked up the Group 2 title with another class victory in their front-wheel drive Lancer ES and earned a deserving sixth overall, their best finish ever in the championship. It was the fourth class win in five outings for the Manitoban brothers who lead the 2WD standings.

Simon Losier and Francois Morin almost had a podium in sight in their Boisvert Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 8 RS when they were slowed by a flat tire. They completed the event in fourth overall, a mere 28 seconds from third place. Finally, Zebe Szewczyk and Tomasz Karzynski from Calgary steered their Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart to Group 5 class win.

“We congratulate our teams for their outstanding performances at the Pacific Forest Rally,” said Kogi Soga, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada Inc. “We are always happy when Mitsubishi teams are successful and we are glad that our rally program is a part of their involvement in motorsports.”

Rally of the Tall Pines finale
The last event of the season will be the famous Rally of the Tall Pines, held in Ontario around the city of Bancroft on the 19 – 21 of November. Tall Pines has been the season finale for decades and road conditions are always the key to an exciting and unpredictable event. A second place for L’Estage / Richard would confirm their title but they will still vie for the outright victory. More information is available at www.tallpinesrally.com.

Antoine L’Estage and co-driver Nathalie Richard (left) are one step away from becoming the Canadian rally champions in their Lancer Evolution. Jan and Jody Zedril from Winnipeg are the new Group 2 Canadian title holders.

Pictures : Philip Ericksen, Barry Giles

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The next step on the road to the Canadian Rally Championship is the Rallye Baie des Chaleurs in the Gaspe Peninsula. This coming weekend, Mitsubishi will have no less than nine teams entered looking for a second victory this season and a third consecutive podium finish. Winners of the first event in February, Antoine L’Estage and codriver Nathalie Richard from St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, will be first on the road Friday evening in their 2009 Lancer Evolution while Torontonian Andrew Comrie-Picard is third in a very impressive 48-car starting grid.

The Boisvert Mitsubishi Synchro team from Blainville will have four Evolution Lancers entered, all manned by members of the Losier family: defending Cup champion Simon and father Rejean in their familiar Evolution 8RS, Martin and rookie Maxime in similar EVO 5 models. Meanwhile, brothers Jan and Jody Zedril from Winnipeg will again compete in the Group 2 class. Phil Deans and codriver Carmel Burke from Kingston are leading the Production Sport category and looking for a second class win. Finally, Michelle Laframboise from Picton will be the first female driver to compete for the Mitsubishi Cup in 2009. She will start 47th.

“All the crews have been working overtime to get their cars ready for the toughest event of the year,” said Koji Soga, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada. “We have two teams among the top three in the country, and this event could be a turning point in the season.”

Event profile: Baie des Chaleurs Rally

Threading its way through the country roads of New Richmond, Quebec, the 32nd edition of the Rallye Baie des Chaleurs will kick off its first leg on Friday night. Several thousand spectators are expected for the two-day event which resumes Saturday morning at 9:00 AM and runs until a 5:30 PM podium ceremony. Of the 400 kilometre total distance, more than 190 will be speed stages. For more information, please visit the event web site at www.rallyebdc.com or visit our password free media website at www.mitsubishi-motors-pr.ca

Andrew Comrie-Picard (left) claimed a podium finish at the Rocky Mountain Rally in May in his new Lancer 09 Evolution while Simon Losier came in a superb fourth overall.
Photos by Barry Giles

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Andrew Comrie-Picard and his codriver, Brit Robbie Durant, clinched their first podium this year in the Canadian Rally Championship with their 2009 Lancer Evolution as they came in second at the Rocky Mountain Rally out of Calgary last weekend. Mitsubishi came up short of another podium finish when Simon Losier and codriver Francois Morin crossed the finish line 4th, only 41 seconds shy of third place. Rejean and Maxime Losier also made a Top 10 with an eighth place finish. Other teams had a difficult weekend: championship leader, Antoine L’Estage was cruising to a second place finish when a mechanical gremlin impeded his progression. Albertans Zbigniew Szewczyk and Tomasz Karzynski and brothers Jan and Jody Zedril from Manitoba were leading their respective classes but went off-road.

“We witnessed in Calgary why rally is one of the toughest form of motorsports”, argued Koji Soga, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada. “Comrie-Picard and Durant were very patient and deserved their podium, a second in a row in Canada for our new Evolution. They have a busy schedule with two championships and a new car to develop. We always expect to see the Losier family repeat their steady performances and they really deliver. Finally, we’re sad for Antoine who was fighting for victory when ha was sidelined.”

Next round: Baie des Chaleurs in the Gaspe area
After Rocky Mountain, Antoine L’Estage stills leads the national standings by virtue of his victory in the maiden event in February, but he will have to up the ante for the next round in the Gaspe area at the end of June at the Rallye Baie des Chaleurs, out of New Richmond since 1975. Experts say the title will be challenged by the two Mitsubishi Evolution and the defending champion Patrick Richard. At least four more crews will be entered for that round, boosting the Mitsubishi Brigade to ten entries. For more information, please visit www.rockymountainrally.com or www.carsrally.com.

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The Canadian Rally Championship is moving west to Calgary for the Rocky Mountain Rally this coming weekend and Mitsubishi will have some of its winningest crews enter the second round of the season. North American and twice Canadian champions and winners of the first round earlier in February, Antoine L’Estage and codriver Nathalie Richard, will take to the roads Friday evening in their 2009 Lancer Evolution. Albertans Zbigniew Szewczyk and Tomasz Karzynski will follow in a Group 5 Ralliart model while returning Production champions, brothers Jan and Jody Zedril from Manitoba are now entering the Group 2 class. These three teams are looking for an outright victory, a podium finish and a class win.

Presently 3rd in the Rally America standings, Andrew Comrie-Picard and Brit codriver Robbie Durant will charge as well for a podium place in another 09 Evolution. Synchro Autosport from Blainville, Quebec is also fielding a couple of Evolution 8 RSs with the usual Losier father and son crews. First, Rejean with codriver Maxime, then Simon, the 2008 Mitsubishi Cup winner, will pair up with Francois Morin. Finally, Mike Elhard and Thomas Chichak will vie for top rookie title in a first generation Evolution.

“We were very pleased with Antoine L’Estage taking a first win with the new Evolution this winter”, stated Koji Soga, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada. “We hope he repeats this feat again in the Rockies. But other Mitsubishi crews are also very deserving and we hope our Rally Program helps them in their quest for titles in their own classes. The standings for the Mitsubishi Cup show Antoine leading but we know it is a long season and Andrew and the Losier family will attack every event.”

Event profile: Rocky Mountain Rally
After the usual Friday afternoon procedures before the official start, Antoine L’Estage will head out first on the road for a few spectator stages before the cars enter Parc ferme for night. Saturday morning will see the southern trek to the Porcupine Hills where most of the event will be held. This area in the past has offered every possible scenario, from hot and dusty roads to heavy snow. At the end of the long 12-hour day, teams will gather in Pincher Creek for the podium ceremony. For more information, please visit www.rockymountainrally.com or visit our password free media website at www.mitsubishi-motors-pr.ca

Photos by Philip Ericksen and Rally America

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