Los Angeles, CA — After Wednesday and Thursday practice sessions, speeds are rising as the rally teams become accustomed to the X Games Rally course. Practice is limited to the tarmac outside the Home Depot Center until the full course is available after the conclusion of the X Games motorcycle competitions on Saturday. The rally car racing course will be a twisty side-by-side configuration that will allow television viewers to easily view who is ahead and feel the speed of the course.

Rally driving on tarmac with gravel tires has proven to be a challenge to Rally America newcomer Dave Mirra. Barrier impacts for Mirra resulted in a torn bumper cover, a damaged quarter panel, and extra work for the course marshals to repair barriers that define the course.

Andrew Comrie-Picard, in his new NOS Energy Mitsubishi livery, is working hard adapting suspension and engine tuning to the challenging and unusual X Games course. Comrie-Picard has also reduced the turbo boost of the car to more easily navigate the tight sections of the course.

Wednesday and Thursday’s practice sessions were without major incident until Antoine L’Estage’s throttle stuck open and the Rockstar Rally Car hit head-on into a wall of soft blocks. Fortunately, the blocks prevented additional damage to the rally car and his team is repairing the fenders and bumper. Fortunately, L’Estage’s did not damage the engine and is expected to be ready for Friday’s practice session.

Each rally team has approached tarmac practice with different strategies on Wednesday to get a good feel and pick the best way around the “turn-arounds”. Antoine L’Estage and Nathalie Richard took it easy a few times unlike Nail McShea and Marshall Clarke who instantly attacked the course.

Nathan and Brandye Conley, who were slated to participate in the X Games before a Pikes Peak International Hill Climb accident, brought their specially prepared X Games Subaru STi to the rally service area and are expected to arrive on Saturday.

Besides having fun testing the rally course, all the drivers are enjoying the X Games experience and are busy preparing for the big rally car racing contest on Sunday, August 3rd. Live television broadcast on ABC will begin at 12:00pm PST with qualifying rounds and 1:30pm PST for elimination rounds.