Brandon Semenuk and co-driver Keaton Williams of Subaru Motorsports USA have been crowned the 2025 American Rally Association (ARA) National Champions, clinching their fourth consecutive overall title in a season marked by fierce competition and dramatic finishes. The duo secured the championship with a commanding win at the Ojibwe Forests Rally, the penultimate round of the season.
Season Development
The 2025 season kicked off with the Sno*Drift Rally in Michigan, where Semenuk and Williams set the early pace with a victory in snowy conditions. The championship saw a tight battle for top honors throughout the year, with competitors like Conner Martell and Travis Pastrana pushing hard.
A key moment occurred at the Southern Ohio Forest Rally, where reigning champion Semenuk slid off the road, allowing Ryan Booth to secure his first-ever national overall win. As the season progressed, the final events, particularly the Lake Superior Performance Rally (LSPR), proved decisive for several class titles, featuring a mix of fast, flowing roads and rough, rocky stages that tested driver and machine durability. Pastrana ended his season on a high note, taking the overall victory at LSPR in the new Subaru WRX ARA25L.
Championship Standings (Top 3 in each category)
Overall Open Class Championship
Brandon Semenuk and Keaton Williams dominated the Open 4-Wheel Drive class and the overall championship, showcasing consistent speed and reliability.
- Brandon Semenuk (Driver) / Keaton Williams (Co-Driver) - Subaru Motorsports USA
- Conner Martell (Driver) / Alex Gelsomino (Co-Driver) - 2C Compétition
- Travis Pastrana (Driver) / Rhianon Gelsomino (Co-Driver) - Subaru Motorsports USA
RC2 and LN4 Championships
The RC2 class saw a tight points battle that concluded at LSPR. Patrick Gruszka needed only to finish to secure the title, which he did, despite some late-race drama for his closest competitor, Javier Olivares. In the combined LN4 (Limited 4WD and Naturally Aspirated 4WD) class, Travis Pastrana and Rhianon Gelsomino clinched the championship with their class win at LSPR.
- RC2 Champion: Patrick Gruszka (Driver) / KJ Miller (Co-Driver)
- LN4 Champions: Travis Pastrana (Driver) / Rhianon Gelsomino (Co-Driver)
Open 2WD Championship
The Open 2-Wheel Drive (O2WD) championship was claimed by veteran driver Seamus Burke and co-driver Gary McElhinney, whose season-long consistency earned them the title.
- Seamus Burke (Driver) / Gary McElhinney (Co-Driver)
- Richo Healey (Driver) / Michelle Miller (Co-Driver)
- Matthew Nykanen (Driver) / Lars Anderson (Co-Driver) - Nykanen also notably won the inaugural Ken Block Rookie of the Year Award
