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| Antoine L'Estage defending champion at Sno*Drift rally will be looking for a repeat performance from 2013, where he overhauled the Subaru factory team on the closing stages of the rally. Photo Neil McDaid |
Williston, VT (January 17, 2014)
-- The 41st running of the Sno*Drift Rally once again kicks-off the
eight-round 2014 Rally America National Championship season on January 24-25,
2014 in Montmorency County, Michigan.
Sno*Drift
is a performance rally that features prepared 2-wheel and 4-wheel-drive production
cars on closed down timed sections of wintery roads It is the only planned snow
event on the Rally America National Championship schedule attracting more than
fifty domestic and international teams as well as legions of dedicated rally
fans.
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| David Higgins and Craig Drew would like nothing more than to open their 2014 championship campaign with a victory at Sno*Drift. Photo Neil McDaid. |
After two
months off, the Championship begins the next chapter with many familiar faces
from prior years and some very new faces. Last year's Sno*Drift winner and 2010
Rally America National Champion, Antoine L'Estage, is back to attempt a repeat
victory in his trademark Mitsubishi Evolution X after he beat Subaru Rally Team
USA's David Higgins on the very last stage in 2013. David Higgins with
co-driver Craig Drew went on to secure the 2013 Rally America title for the
third consecutive year and are expected to return to Sno*Drift to extend their
streak.
The
competition will be crowded with a large contingent of Super Production (SP)
cars led by 2013 SP Champions David Sterckx and Karen Jankowski. The SP battle
is expected to be tight with the entrance of Lauchlin O'Sullivan and Dillon Van
Way, whom both are familiar with top podium finishes.
Rally America fans are anticipating the
return of Subaru Rally Team USA's Travis Pastrana, the X Games action sports
star who raced for the team from 2006-2009 and delivered four Rally America
titles. Pastrana left stage rally to pursue a NASCAR career, but issued a
December announcement that he wanted to return to the sport he loves. However,
Pastrana will not attend Sno*Drift opting to make his season debut at the Rally
in the 100 Acre Wood on February 21-22nd in Salem, Missouri.
Many teams consider the Sno*Drift Rally
to be their favorite event due to the unique experience of running the icy,
snow banked roads WITHOUT studded tires at high speeds. As a result, Sno*Drift's
conditions instantly levels the playing field allowing any driver a chance to
win, and the race's past overall winners reflects the event's diversity and
toughness.
Since
2005 the Sno*Drift Rally has traditionally been the opening round to the Rally
America National Championship and will continue that role for the 2014 season.
Sno*Drift received Honorable Mention in 2008, and in 2005, 2011, and 2012
was named "Rally of the Year", being declared the benchmark by which
other Rally America National Championship events are judged.
"We're
striving to put on a world class rally again this year and we're pleased to be
able to do this in Montmorency County, it's a great place for an event of this
caliber," said Don Rathgeber, Sno*Drift Rally Chairman.
Fans
attending the 2014 Sno*Drift Rally will have plenty of opportunities to meet
their favorite drivers and watch the rally action on more than 120 miles of
competition roads and at the fan-friendly Ralph Thayer Mazda and MAHLE Clevite
sponsored Super Special Stage which takes place on Saturday afternoon in
Lewiston, MI.
It's the
Super Special that draws considerable fan attention during the event. The
Super Special is a rally stage where spectators can watch all the rally action
from start to finish from the comfort of one viewing location. Taking place on
Saturday, January 25th at the Lewiston Sand & Gravel Pit located
just off of Buttles Road - admission is just $5 per person. Due to
limited on-site parking, organizers are providing free bus rides from the
Atlanta, MI School and the Lewiston Ace Hardware store beginning at noon.
Details of both opportunities are currently available on www.sno-drift.org.
The
Sno*Drift Rally begins in downtown Lewiston, MI at 1:00 PM on Friday, January
24 at the Parc Expose where spectators will have a chance to view the rally
cars on display, as well as get autographs from the many drivers and co-drivers
prior to the start of the day's action. In addition, fans will be able to
pick up complimentary spectator guides that provide driving instructions to
nearby viewing areas. It's a perfect starting place for a day full of rally
competition and an adventure in the beautiful Michigan woods.
Saturday
starts once again in downtown Atlanta, MI at 8:00 AM, January 25, 2014 with
another Parc Expose and opportunities to meet the drivers. After the day's
action awards and the victory celebration will take place at the Hillman
Community Center at 6:30 PM.
In
addition to seeing the cars lined at Parc Expose, Sno*Drift will have numerous
designated spectator areas on both Friday and Saturday. These locations give
people a great viewpoint as the cars slide by at race speeds. There are also
opportunities to see the drivers up close as well as watch all the amazing
service crews repair damage to the race cars at the TRF (www.thompsonracingfabrication.com) sponsored
service areas. On Friday it will be in downtown Lewiston and on Saturday at the
Atlanta High School.
Spectator
guides and event schedules are available for free download on the Sno*Drift
website and at www.rally-america.com.
Hard copy spectator guides will be available at Parcs Expose and at service
areas.
In
addition to the Rally America National Championship event, the Sno*Drift Rally
will also feature two separate Regional rally events. The Sno Regional and
Drift Regional Rallies will be run on Friday and Saturday respectively, to
support grassroots and regional rally competitors.
