Antoine L'Estage and Nathalie Richard Head West to Clinch the Canadian Title

 

 

 

Montréal (Québec), October 10, 2012.- After securing the 2012 North American Rally Championship three weeks ago, Quebec driver Antoine L’Estage (of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu) his co-driver Nathalie Richard (of Halifax, Nova Scotia) will be contesting the penultimate round in the Canadian Rally Championship this weekend in British Columbia.  At the Pacific Forest Rally, the Rockstar Energy Drink Rally Team’s goal is to leave the event with the Canadian title in hand, prior to the final round of the year. 

 

At the wheel of their Rockstar Energy Drink Mitsubishi Evo X, Antoine L'Estage and Nathalie Richard are dominating the 2012 season.  With three victories and one second place in the four disputed rounds of the Canadian Rally Championship to date, the duo only needs to finish either ahead of closest rival Leo Urlichich (and co-driver Carl Williamson) or less than four points behind them in order to lock-up the coveted 2012 title at the Pacific Forest Rally. 

"It’s a great rally, with high-altitude stages surrounding the town of Merritt.  The weather conditions are uncertain and ever-changing, which is why we chose to bring with us a wide selection of Yokohama tires" explains Antoine, four-time winner of this rally and eight-time Merritt podium finisher since 2004. "It’s at the Pacific Forest Rally that we clinched the Canadian title last year and this year, we’re coming to the event in a similar position.  We’ll obviously go for the win but the primary goal is the championship so we’ll see how things stand and take it from there.  If dust is as bad as last year and we’re not first on the road, we won’t be doing anything stupid" adds the four-time Canadian and North American champion.

 

The Rockstar Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X remained out west after the team’s participation in last month’s Olympus Rally near Olympia, Washington.  The team’s mechanics did the necessary checks and re-preparation prior to bringing the car north to Canada for this weekend’s event.  "The car is perfect!  We didn’t have any problems at Olympus and everything looks to be in check for this weekend" chimes in co-driver Nathalie Richard.

 

With five victories this season, three of which have been in Canada, the Rockstar Energy Drink Rally Team is having yet another exceptional season. Antoine L'Estage and Nathalie Richard will start the Pacific Forest Rally this Friday, October 12^th, at 5pm in Merritt (northeast of Vancouver). The first leg finishes in the dark on Friday night and will resume on Saturday, from 8am until 8pm. 

Photo: Maxime Poirier