Portland, OR, May 9, 2012
-- TrueCar Rally America Driver Verena Mei and her Co-Driver Leanne Junnila
finished one of the most technical and demanding events in the Rally America
National Championship at the top of the Factory B-Spec Class and top 10 overall
in the 2012 Oregon Trail Rally, in a field which included 350 horsepower, AWD
Open Class cars and competition from drivers including former British Rally
Championship, Winner David Higgins.
"I’m so proud of my team, that we
placed top 10 overall, 4th in the 2WD Division and 1st in the b-spec
class ” said Mei. “everything I've learned from Team O'Neil and from
working with my co-driver, Leanne Junnila, is coming together.” Said Verena
Mei. “I'm fully committed to pushing harder at each stage.”
The battle to finish in the top 10 was
hard won as Mei and Junnila finished stage one of the 16-stage, three-day race
in 20th place and by stage four, fell to 21st. By stage 10 they had
climbed to 12th place and went on to finish in the top 10 for the
first time in their 2012 Season. The Oregon Trail Rally tests drivers with
demanding terrain including tarmac, gravel, mud, sand, grass, water crossings
and night driving, all of which present unique hazards and challenges.
Verena drives the TrueCar Ford Fiesta
#335 rally car and is a member of TrueCar’s Women Empowered initiative and
their sponsorship of the Star Girl Racing Team. The TrueCar Racing “Women Empowered” initiative
supports six female athletes encompassing various racing series. TrueCar is
paving the way and raising awareness of female racers, like Verena, as viable
competitors in a male-dominated sport.
