OLYMPIA, WA -- The top rally drivers in the country will battle each other and the rugged terrain of the Pacific Northwest when the Rally America National Championship Series moves to Washington State for the Olympus Rally on May 19 and 20.

A demanding and technical course that winds through dense forest and over 125 miles of dirt and gravel roads in and around Olympia, Wash., the Olympus Rally is also known for the unpredictable – and often inclement – weather characteristic of the region. The constantly changing surface conditions produce hours of exciting racing action for competitors and spectators alike.

“The opportunity to race in the Pacific Northwest is a wonderful experience for our drivers and our fans,” said J.B Niday, managing director of Rally America. “The Olympus Rally is an exciting and historic event for our national and regional racers to compete in. With a deep field of competitors, racers will compete on a variety of road conditions as they challenge one another for valuable points.”

Although a new addition to the Rally America schedule for 2007, the Olympus Rally was part of the first SCCA PRO Rally Championship in 1973 and was a World Rally Championship race from 1986-1988. Rally racing legends such as Rod Millen, Juha Kankkunen and American John Buffum have claimed victories at the famed event.

Rally America drivers compete in street-legal vehicles that are modified for safety. Six vehicle classes, ranging from stock to highly modified, compete under the Rally America banner. Eleven different automobile manufacturers are represented in Rally America events, led by Subaru, Mitsubishi, Dodge, Ford and Volkswagen.

Entering the Olympus Rally, the top four drivers in the 2007 Rally America standings are separated by just 10 points. After three of nine events, Ken Block and co-driver Alessandro Gelsomino lead the standings, followed by Tanner Foust and co-driver Christine Beavis. The 2006 Rally America national champions, Travis Pastrana and co-driver Christian Edstrom, are third, while Oregon Trail Rally winner Andrew Pinker is fourth.

In addition to the 2007 Rally America National Championship title, drivers are competing for entry into X Games 13. For the second consecutive year, rally racing will be featured in the Summer X Games, with the first five races of the 2007 Rally America season serving as qualifying events for the popular action-sport competition.

OLYMPUS RALLY – RACE WEEKEND SCHEDULE

* ALL EVENTS ARE FREE TO THE PUBLIC UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED *

Saturday, May 19, 2007

9:00 a.m.	Parc Exposé (race cars on display), Capitol grounds, Olympia, Wash.
10:00 a.m.	Start of Day One, Capitol grounds, Olympia, Wash.
11:13 a.m.	Straddleline ORV Park stage, McCleary, Wash. ($10 admission – includes all ORV stages and service throughout the day)
12:34 p.m.	Straddleline ORV Park stage, McCleary, Wash.
2:35 p.m.	Skookum Forest stage, near Shelton, Wash.
5:49 p.m.	Skookum Forest stage, near Shelton, Wash.
8:00 p.m.	Finish of Day One, Little Creek Casino Resort, Shelton, Wash.

NOTE: Vehicle service will take place in Straddleline ORV Park at 11:31 a.m., 1:02 p.m., 4:16 p.m. and 5:10 p.m.

Sunday, May 20, 2007

8:00 a.m.	Parc Exposé (race cars on display), downtown Shelton, Wash.
8:30 a.m.	Start of Day Two, downtown Shelton, Wash.
9:05 a.m.	Dayton stage, near Shelton, Wash.
10:08 a.m.	Nahwatzel stage, near Shelton, Wash.
11:28 a.m.	Vehicle service, downtown Shelton, Wash.
12:28 p.m.	Dayton stage, near Shelton, Wash.
1:54 p.m.	Vehicle service, downtown Shelton, Wash.
2:54 p.m.	Nahwatzel stage, near Shelton, Wash.
4:24 p.m.	Finish of Day Two, Little Creek Casino Resort, Shelton, Wash.

MEDIA ADVISORY: Local media are invited to ride along with Rally America drivers from 1-3 p.m. on Thursday, May 17 at the Straddleline ORV Park outside Olympia, Wash. Interview opportunities with Rally America competitors are also available. For more information, please contact Ashleigh Lockhart at alockhart@wmgllc.com or Alan Perry at media@olympusrally.com.

About Rally America
Based in Golden Valley, Minn., Rally America sanctions the premier rally racing series in the United States, the Rally America National Championship Series. In 2007, Rally America will conduct nine National Championship events at venues across the country, from Olympia, Wash., to Bethel, Maine. Rally America competitors reach speeds well over 100 mph in modified street cars on natural-terrain courses of gravel, dirt or snow. All Rally America National Championship events are broadcast on ESPN2 from July to November in 2007. Additionally, through a partnership with ESPN, qualifying Rally America drivers will be invited to compete in the Summer X Games, the annual leading action-sport event that is broadcast live on ABC and ESPN. For more information, visit www.rally-america.com.

Media Contact:
Alan Perry
Olympus Rally
media@olympusrally.com
206-499-5501