'Crazy Leo' Urlichich and co-driver Martin Brady won their first ever national event at a very special edition of the Rally of the Tall Pines.
A record 59 teams took the start in Bancroft, meaning the 2011 edition of the Tall Pines went down in history not only for Urlichich's crazy performance, but also for the number of participants.
Quantity however, didn't come at quality's expense. The organizers were blessed with a few big names adding themselves to the entry list.
On top of the usual Antoine L'Estage and Pat Richard rivalry, a grudge match including European rallyman, and 2011 Rally America champion Dave Higgins was foreseen. 'Crazy Leo' Urlichich of course being not far behind.
The excuse for Subaru Rally Team USA to show up like that to the Canadian season's finale, was that they were preparing their 2012 campaign. Not doubt the title being already wrapped-up, they wanted to see just how well they could do against their northern neighbours.
Unfortunately for Higgins, the victory was to be forgotten when, unlucky, he and co-driver Craig Drew sliced a tire late Saturday afternoon. Unluckier were 2011 Canadian Rally (CRC) champions Antoine L'Estage and Nathalie Richard, who broke down on stage 5.
Unluckiest were 2010 CRC runner-up Pat Richard and Alan Ockwell, who both picked up a puncture and broke down. At which point, Rocket Rally crew hadn't given up yet.
During Service 3, the mechanics swapped the failed tranny and differential in a record 20 minutes, in order to send Richard and Ockwell back out. Only then, the rally ended for Subaru Rally Team Canada, when the new transmission also broke down.
With L'Estage, Richard and Higgins out of contention, Urlichich only had to bring the car to the finish, which, when you're called 'Crazy Leo' is a feat in itself. Co-driver Martin Brady did a remarkable job keeping him in line.
“It's very much a team victory,” Urlichich said when he heard the news. “Can-Jam did an amazing job preparing the car, so did Martin! [The victory] hasn't sinked in yet, that's why I'm not jumping up and down...”
In two-wheel drive, victory went to another foreigner. Amercian Wyatt Knox took the top step of the podium in his Team O'Neil Ford Fiesta. Bruno Carré climbed on the third step of the podium in the overall standings.
OPEN class results – Rally of the Tall Pines (Bancroft, ON)
1. Leonid Urlichich and Martin Brady (Subaru Beast 07) – 1h59min04.8sec
2. David Higgins and Craig Drew (Subaru Impreza WRX STI 2011) – 1h59min36.7sec
3. Bruno Carré and Yvan Joyal (Subaru Impreza SSI 2002) – 2h07min51.7sec
4. Ugo Desgreniers and Erik Kirby (Subaru WRX STI 2005) – 2h12min25.7sec
5. Steeve Hobbs and Jean-Mathieu Tremblay (Subaru WRX STI 2007) – 2h13min19.7sec
...
DNF - Antoine L'Estage and Nathalie Richard (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X 2009) – Transmission
DNF – Pat Richard and Alan Ockwell (Subaru WRX STI 2008) – Transmission
A record 59 teams took the start in Bancroft, meaning the 2011 edition of the Tall Pines went down in history not only for Urlichich's crazy performance, but also for the number of participants.
Quantity however, didn't come at quality's expense. The organizers were blessed with a few big names adding themselves to the entry list.
On top of the usual Antoine L'Estage and Pat Richard rivalry, a grudge match including European rallyman, and 2011 Rally America champion Dave Higgins was foreseen. 'Crazy Leo' Urlichich of course being not far behind.
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| 'Crazy Leo' in his crazy rally car (Photo: R.Fagnan/Auto123.com) |
The excuse for Subaru Rally Team USA to show up like that to the Canadian season's finale, was that they were preparing their 2012 campaign. Not doubt the title being already wrapped-up, they wanted to see just how well they could do against their northern neighbours.
Unfortunately for Higgins, the victory was to be forgotten when, unlucky, he and co-driver Craig Drew sliced a tire late Saturday afternoon. Unluckier were 2011 Canadian Rally (CRC) champions Antoine L'Estage and Nathalie Richard, who broke down on stage 5.
Unluckiest were 2010 CRC runner-up Pat Richard and Alan Ockwell, who both picked up a puncture and broke down. At which point, Rocket Rally crew hadn't given up yet.
During Service 3, the mechanics swapped the failed tranny and differential in a record 20 minutes, in order to send Richard and Ockwell back out. Only then, the rally ended for Subaru Rally Team Canada, when the new transmission also broke down.
With L'Estage, Richard and Higgins out of contention, Urlichich only had to bring the car to the finish, which, when you're called 'Crazy Leo' is a feat in itself. Co-driver Martin Brady did a remarkable job keeping him in line.
“It's very much a team victory,” Urlichich said when he heard the news. “Can-Jam did an amazing job preparing the car, so did Martin! [The victory] hasn't sinked in yet, that's why I'm not jumping up and down...”
In two-wheel drive, victory went to another foreigner. Amercian Wyatt Knox took the top step of the podium in his Team O'Neil Ford Fiesta. Bruno Carré climbed on the third step of the podium in the overall standings.
OPEN class results – Rally of the Tall Pines (Bancroft, ON)
1. Leonid Urlichich and Martin Brady (Subaru Beast 07) – 1h59min04.8sec
2. David Higgins and Craig Drew (Subaru Impreza WRX STI 2011) – 1h59min36.7sec
3. Bruno Carré and Yvan Joyal (Subaru Impreza SSI 2002) – 2h07min51.7sec
4. Ugo Desgreniers and Erik Kirby (Subaru WRX STI 2005) – 2h12min25.7sec
5. Steeve Hobbs and Jean-Mathieu Tremblay (Subaru WRX STI 2007) – 2h13min19.7sec
...
DNF - Antoine L'Estage and Nathalie Richard (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X 2009) – Transmission
DNF – Pat Richard and Alan Ockwell (Subaru WRX STI 2008) – Transmission