Apparently Rally is gaining popularity among car companies. Not only did the new Subaru ad drop a few weeks ago, but Mitsubishi has an ad on TV (for a while now) that features a rally car. The ad is pretty sweet with a nice EVO 9, and the new RalliArt Lancer and EVO X.
There is something missing though—a Mitsubishi factory team in the US. Andrew Comrie-Picard is the closest thing we've got, and Mitsubishi USA doesn't quite have his back, but at least Mitsubishi Canada does. "I've run Mitsubishis exclusively since 2002 because they're awesome cars—rally-ready right out of the box. I believe in the brand. I have to give credit to the Subaru guys, though; not only do they have an awesome team but they're leveraging their involvement really well with their cool media."
I'd like to see ACP and another young driver, maybe Chris Duplessis, on a two car team rolling deep with a couple of factory backed EVO Xs. That and maybe some attractive contingencies to increase the number of rallying Mitsubishis in the US. But the ad is cool and the song, "Bring It On" by Goose was a great choice.
Not sure if you noticed yet, but our man Kenny Bartram snuck into that Subaru ad that we posted about. If you watch very carefully, there is a shot of a jump on tarmac. The jump happens to be on the Brockway Mountain Stage at LSPR in Michigan. Timeframe: October.
The whole video which is filled with banger footage of Subaru Rally Team USA at work,but it is punctuated by one brief clip of Cowboy Kenny and co-driver Dennis Hotson airing out their STI and landing a bit crooked.
When asked about it Kenny said, "Hell yeah! I had no idea I was gonna be in the commercial! Funny thing is I watched it this morning and didn't notice myself. Maybe on a TV it would show up better, but on Youtube, you pretty much have to be looking for us to find us."
Take another watch and see if you can spot his Alpinestars emblazened ride. Hint: the blue is just a little different than Pastrana's STI.
Bill Lockwood
Kenny and Dennis borrowed some AA lithium batteries from us in Colorado and took until LSPR to give them back. Dennis tried to drop them off here, but we missed the hand-off.
Production GT is where the WRX's live. Harboring minimal modifications to keep costs down, in the right hands, they are only a touch slower than the Open Class cars, and the competition is all there. "It's just a great class, and for the last three years its been just that, a battle! This year looks to be the same, with four or five guys that can win a race anything can happen," said Pat Moro, the driver of the Hankook tires PGT WRX. Moro won PGT at the season opener this year, Sno*Drift Rally in Michigan. Moro and his co-driver Mike Rossey park in the Hankook camp right next to Matt Johnson, who just last year graduated from PGT Magna Cum Laude.
Bill Lockwood
…and at other times, Travis Hanson's WRX doubles as a tow truck.
Moro got used to sharing again when Stephan Verdier arrived fashionably late to start his season at 100 Acre Wood. It was the second national race of the year—Stephan and co-driver Scott Crouch have have gone on to treat their PGT WRX to back-to-back wins.
"The battle for PGT is a big uphill for us. We didn't make the first rally of the season, so we started with a handicap," said Verdier. "For us to do good we have to stay focus even if we have a good lead during a rally. I almost throw out our lead at 100 Acres, we led by something like 5 minutes on the second place PGT car, and I crash into a tree in the last stage. The front of the car was gone—no radiator. Luckily, it was really cold that night, and we manage to make it to the end of the stage. Travis Hanson in the second place PGT car towed us back to the official finish line so we could claim our win."
"This year the PGT drivers are better than last year—everybody is going faster. The time on stage are really close, you can't afford any mistake. If you lose 10 or 15 seconds on a stage, it might take you half of the day to recover it. That's what's cool about the PGT class, the car has really close performance, so it comes down to who makes the least amount of mistake," continued Verdier. "I don't think this year is any easier than last."
Moro agrees, "All the cars in PGT are pretty close, and with the contingency money Subaru has put into the class, there are a number of good cars. As for our car, it's the same as last year. I have a feeling it will go to the wire at LSPR again."
Bill Lockwood
Pat Moro enjoys peaceful drives with co-driver Mike Rossey, sunsets, is very open to PGT.
Bill Lockwood
Looks good for center-punching a tree. Of course, this is after the Flatirons Crew got Verdier's WRX bandanged up enough to drive back to the hotel.
The word about rally got out—yesterday the Local Exposure Tour took their giant Boost Mobile and DC tour buses up to Team O'Neil's Rally School in New Hampshire. Local Exposure is a grassroots BMX tour where the pro's head out on the road to find new talent. Tour manager and pro himself, Allan Cooke, got a hot tip from Dave Mirra—Greenville, NC is like a giant BMX fraternity. The buses arrived for the surprise rally school, and Micah Cranz, the uber-famous BMX emcee said, "F yeah, I'm in. I just want to throw this thing sideways in the worst way possible!"
The riders, who comulatively have more X Games and AST medals than there are fixed gear bikes at a Williamsburg art opening, took quickly to driving the rally school cars. Chris Duplessis and Travis Hanson of Team O'Neil's said, "It's great when we have people in that already know how to do something. They already look where they want to go. This may have been the best Rally Experience group ever."
Anthony Napolitan, the 2006 AST gold medalist said, "It's awesome; I like it. I've been into the street cars, but this is my first time in a rally car and it's f'ing fun." At 20 years old, Napolitan has a "20th Anniversary GTI, with a stage 3 clutch, turbo, and a big ass front mount intercooler" which he told me as we aired a crest at the dirt slalom with instructor, Forest Duplessis, who you should know as Chris D's brother.
Allan concentrated on learning, "I am actually… focused. Sure, I want to drive cars one day for a living. I'm not ready to retire yet, but I wouldn't mind turning two wheels in for four at some time in my life. After finding out how fun these school cars are [Mk II VW Jetta's] I am definitely going to be buying Autotrader all the way home!" said Cooke.
Special thanks to Tim O'Neil, Chris and Forest, Travis, Wyatt, Eric and the rest of the crew at O'Neil's for putting up with rowdy athletes, overheated cars and blown motors—all day long!
Cody York
Allan Cooke in the zone.
Cody York
Ryan "Biz" Jordan behind the wheel and Micah Kranz showing nothing but style as they whip through a turn. Micah puts the style in Rally.
Cody York
Anthony Napolitan was stoked whether he was behind the wheel or chillin in the back.
Cody York
Quinn Semling's car pouring out smoke after going way to fast around a turn and blowing up something on the car!
Render this: the new STi is the rabid lovechild born from the heart of rally.
Subaru does. They've got it down. Legit. Signed, sealed, delivered. The new Subaru spot featuring the 2008 STi just dropped, and it's chock full of great footage of Mr. Block and Mr. Pastrana in their four-wheeled mobile offices.
While auto manufacturers continue to add more horsepower to more boring machines, Subaru really does make a driver's car. The STi has plenty of power, and handles like a car should— not like a risk management exec suggests. Go fast, turn in, chances are your Impreza (be it base model, WRX or STi) will be there with you. Don't expect a German car to step out playfully without serious coercion.
Kudos to Subaru—the car manufacturer with the guts to fully back rally, the car manufacturer to step up and let their cars get wrecked up. James Han says, "Subaru uses motorsports to add value into their product development. Rally is inarguably one of the most grueling forms of motorsport for both driver and machine. With that awareness generated by Rally, Subaru hopes to turn performance enthusiasts into buyers. I think our efforts are working." And, that is coming from Subaru's National Marketing Department.
Apparently their efforts are working because the YouTube version currently has over 280,000 views in just two weeks! Here are some impressive YouTube stats as of today to back this up:
#3 - Most Viewed (This Month) - Autos & Vehicles
#2 - Top Favorites (This Month) - Autos & Vehicles
#5 - Top Rated (This Month) - Autos & Vehicles
Remember:
"Don't try these stunts at home!" Watch now!
