From Coyote Rallye Media Services
At the wheel of their Rockstar Energy Drink Royal Group Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X, Canadians Antoine L’Estage and Nathalie Richard won this past weekend’s New England Forest Rally (Maine), the last round of the 2010 Rally America season.
With this victory, the duo from St-Jean-sur-Richelieu clinches the overall 2010 Rally America title. This marks the first time in history that a Quebec driver has won an American rally championship, a big feat for the already two-time Canadian and two-time North American champion.
As for his co-driver Nathalie Richard, sister of rally driver Patrick, this is the third overall American title she has earned, making her the most successful Canadian rally competitor in US competition.
Antoine L’Estage was contesting the full Rally America season in 2010 for his first time. Despite that, he, Nathalie Richard, and the entire team successfully finished every round of the series on the podium, with three second places, one third place, and capped off the season with victories here in Maine and in Pennsylvania last month.
“It was an interesting rally (in Maine) because all of the front-runners had problems at one point or another during the weekend,” said L’Estage.
“On our end, we had turbo problems during the last two stages on Friday night, dropping us to fifth place. After that, we had to cautiously try to make our way further up the leader board without taking any risks. On the second last stage we were in second place when Travis Pastrana’s mechanical DNF put us in the lead, » explained L’Estage who put an end to Pastrana’s four-year reign as Rally America champion.
The Rockstar Royal Group team heads to Los Angeles, California next week to compete in the popular 16th edition of the X Games on July 31st. Antoine L’Estage will contest the Rally Car Racing event as well as Super Rally, a rally cross-type event new to this year. This will be the Quebec driver’s third time participating in the X Games, which will be televised live on ABC.
At the wheel of their Rockstar Energy Drink Royal Group Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X, Canadians Antoine L’Estage and Nathalie Richard won this past weekend’s New England Forest Rally (Maine), the last round of the 2010 Rally America season.
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| Photo: Coyote Rallye Media Services |
With this victory, the duo from St-Jean-sur-Richelieu clinches the overall 2010 Rally America title. This marks the first time in history that a Quebec driver has won an American rally championship, a big feat for the already two-time Canadian and two-time North American champion.
As for his co-driver Nathalie Richard, sister of rally driver Patrick, this is the third overall American title she has earned, making her the most successful Canadian rally competitor in US competition.
Antoine L’Estage was contesting the full Rally America season in 2010 for his first time. Despite that, he, Nathalie Richard, and the entire team successfully finished every round of the series on the podium, with three second places, one third place, and capped off the season with victories here in Maine and in Pennsylvania last month.
 |
| Photo: Coyote Rallye Media Services |
“It was an interesting rally (in Maine) because all of the front-runners had problems at one point or another during the weekend,” said L’Estage.
“On our end, we had turbo problems during the last two stages on Friday night, dropping us to fifth place. After that, we had to cautiously try to make our way further up the leader board without taking any risks. On the second last stage we were in second place when Travis Pastrana’s mechanical DNF put us in the lead, » explained L’Estage who put an end to Pastrana’s four-year reign as Rally America champion.
The Rockstar Royal Group team heads to Los Angeles, California next week to compete in the popular 16th edition of the X Games on July 31st. Antoine L’Estage will contest the Rally Car Racing event as well as Super Rally, a rally cross-type event new to this year. This will be the Quebec driver’s third time participating in the X Games, which will be televised live on ABC.