Quotes from Flatovercrest.com
Pat Richard (Subaru) scored his first win of the season in Canadian Rally Championship competition at the Pacific Forest Rally (PFR) in Merrit, BC. But it was Antoine L'Estage and Nathalie Richard (Mitsubishi) who clinched the title.
Richard had been without his usual co-driver, Alan Ockwell, since the beginning of the season. Things had not been going so smoothly with replacement Leanne Junnila for the last four rallies.
But at PFR, Ockwell was back in the co-driver seat. The Subaru pair drove an impressive rally to take their first win of the season. It seems Ockwell's return was the spark Richard needed.
Nevertheless, the biggest achievement of the day came behind them. Runner-up spot for Antoine L'Estage and Nathalie Richard was enough to land them the Canadian and North American 2011 titles.
Now that driver and co-driver titles are decided, both teams will turn their attention to the manufacturer's battle. With only one rally left, it is still up for grab, one point spreading Mitsubishi and Subaru apart.
If Subaru is able to lay their hands on the prize, Richard, representing Subaru Canada, will owe 'Crazy' Leo Urlichich a big thank you.
The Can-Jam driver has been doing extremely well this season, reminding big boys Richard and L'Estage he will be a serious threat next year.
At PFR, he took the last spot on the podium.
"I can remember even a year ago, being seven or eight minutes behind them," said a reminiscent 'Crazy' Leo. "And now we’re two minutes back. I think with more fine tuning and getting the car setup better, we’ll be even faster.”
In two wheel drive competition, the Zedril brothers were out on there own.
"We love two wheel drive, said Jody. "But we need more competition. Right now, too many cars break, or don’t even enter, so you can end up on your own."
Just like Pat Richard, Eric Grochowski got his regular co-driver back, the same Leanne Junnila. The pair usually gives the Zedrils a run for their money, but their effort at PFR was hampered by engine problems.
Pat Richard (Subaru) scored his first win of the season in Canadian Rally Championship competition at the Pacific Forest Rally (PFR) in Merrit, BC. But it was Antoine L'Estage and Nathalie Richard (Mitsubishi) who clinched the title.
Richard had been without his usual co-driver, Alan Ockwell, since the beginning of the season. Things had not been going so smoothly with replacement Leanne Junnila for the last four rallies.
But at PFR, Ockwell was back in the co-driver seat. The Subaru pair drove an impressive rally to take their first win of the season. It seems Ockwell's return was the spark Richard needed.
Nevertheless, the biggest achievement of the day came behind them. Runner-up spot for Antoine L'Estage and Nathalie Richard was enough to land them the Canadian and North American 2011 titles.
Now that driver and co-driver titles are decided, both teams will turn their attention to the manufacturer's battle. With only one rally left, it is still up for grab, one point spreading Mitsubishi and Subaru apart.
If Subaru is able to lay their hands on the prize, Richard, representing Subaru Canada, will owe 'Crazy' Leo Urlichich a big thank you.
The Can-Jam driver has been doing extremely well this season, reminding big boys Richard and L'Estage he will be a serious threat next year.
At PFR, he took the last spot on the podium.
"I can remember even a year ago, being seven or eight minutes behind them," said a reminiscent 'Crazy' Leo. "And now we’re two minutes back. I think with more fine tuning and getting the car setup better, we’ll be even faster.”
In two wheel drive competition, the Zedril brothers were out on there own.
"We love two wheel drive, said Jody. "But we need more competition. Right now, too many cars break, or don’t even enter, so you can end up on your own."
Just like Pat Richard, Eric Grochowski got his regular co-driver back, the same Leanne Junnila. The pair usually gives the Zedrils a run for their money, but their effort at PFR was hampered by engine problems.