From the very beginning of the second day, the rally was on the edge of a knife. The top four crews were separated by a mere half-minute, and every stage brought a new twist to the unfolding drama.
At the heart of this intense battle was Britain’s Tom Williams. After a strong opening day, Williams found himself under pressure from the start of the first stage. His pace in his Rally2 machine had been evident from the very first stage on Friday. On the opening test of day two, it would be Lia Block and co driver Alex Gelsomino who set the faster time over SS6 immediately put pressure on the front runners. William now running first on the road would punch back on SS7 setting the fastest time.
Travis Pastrana, driving for Subaru Motorsports USA, retaliated with a stage-winning run of his own, effectively regaining the lead. Despite deliberately adopting a conservative approach during certain segments of Friday’s stages, the Subaru driver’s assault on the final day was undeniably evident. During the morning loop, Pastrana and Williams were separated by a mere three seconds overall—a minuscule fraction of a second over a rally spanning over 120 competitive miles.
Also firmly in the mix was Patrick Gruszka, whose measured approach contrasted with the all-out attacks unfolding ahead of him. Gruszka rarely topped the stage times, but his consistency kept him within reach as others pushed harder—and occasionally paid the price.
Saturday’s stages produced several notable retirements. The highly anticipated American Rally Association debut of the Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team finally arrived at 100AW, as the team began its full championship effort with the all-new Toyota GR Corolla Rally RC2. Toyota’s rookie driver Seth Quintero held a consistent pace throughout day one setting some impressive times for his first competitive stage rally. Unfortunately the second stage did not go as planned. The deep water ford crossing on SS7 proved too much for the Corolla, the water pressure forced the hood up and drowned the motor. Seth was unable to finish the stage on his own power/
After returning to service and completing a thorough inspection and adding some missing body parts the Toyota rejoined the rally for the final loop as a Non-Competitive Entry (NCE). This allowed the Seth and team to continue running stages miles for development purposes.
Further down the order the attrition continued. Mechanical issues, punctures, and minor offs steadily trimmed the field as crews pushed harder in pursuit of time. .
Through the penultimate stage the top contenders were still separated by only seconds. Williams continued to attack relentlessly, at times appearing to have the upper hand. Pastrana responded in kind, refusing to relinquish the pressure and matching the Briton’s pace stage after stage.
Behind them Block was trying her best to keep Patrick Gruszka at bay while also staying in touch with Pastrana and Williams.
As the rally approached its final stage, the outcome remained uncertain. Crews faced a familiar dilemma: push relentlessly for victory or manage the risk and secure a podium finish. In rallies decided by mere seconds, even the slightest mistake—an overshoot, a stalled engine, or a puncture—could determine the entire event’s outcome.
Ultimately, the final miles delivered precisely the kind of drama fans had anticipated from the entire weekend.
The winning margin was measured in mere seconds after two days of relentless competition—an extraordinary statistic considering the rally’s length and pace. For many seasoned observers of American rallying, the event instantly became one of the most closely contested finishes in the championship’s history. While Pastana maintained the overall lead and secured the rally victory, Patrick Gruszka's full-throttle effort during the power stage claimed the stage win and bonus power stage points. Gruszka’s remarkable drive over the final test propelled him to second overall, relegating Williams to third and Block to fourth place, thus eliminating her from the podium.
This years Rally in the 100aw underscored the expanding depth of the ARA field.
Veterans like Pastrana remain formidable, but the challenge posed by rising talent—drivers such as Williams and Block—is becoming increasingly significant. Their impressive pace over the weekend indicated that the championship fight in 2026 could be one of the most competitive seasons the series has ever witnessed.
For now, however, the narrative centers around a single dramatic weekend in Missouri.
The 2026 Rally in the 100 Acre Wood was not determined solely by dominance, luck, or attrition. It was decided by mere seconds—and by drivers who were determined to chase those seconds to the very end.
Report: Neil McDaid
Photos: Subaru Motorsport, Toyota Gazoo, Jacob Halfman/ARA
