Contact: Michel Poirier-Defoy Tel: (450) 491-2480 E-mail: lpindfoy@sympatico.ca

Date:September 12, 1999

1999 Standings: Frank Sprongl, 120 points; Sylvain Vincent, 77; Tom McGeer, 40; John Paynter, 27; Yves Barbe, Jon Nichols, 22; Éric Tremblay, 17; Jeff Smith, 16; Marc Racine, Jon Kemp 15

Class Leaders: Open : Frank Sprongl Production GT : Sylvain Vincent Group 2 : J. Nichols Prod. Sport : Bruno Laverdière Prod. 1750 : Rosenshein /Krawczyk

Leading Marques: Open : Audi Production GT: Eagle Group 2 : Volkswagen Prod. Sport : Toyota Prod. 1750 : Suzuki/Subaru

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Parry Sound, Ont--- By nightfall, it was clear Frank and Dan Sprongl were coasting to the finish line of the Rally of the Voyageurs to clinch the 1999 Subaru Canadian Rally Championship, presented by Yokohama. This is their sixth title in Canada, surpassing Walter Boyce and Taisto Heinonen who had five each back in the ‘70 and ‘80. The North American dynamos continue their perfect season with a sixth straight win.

My goal right now is to have a perfect season,” said Frank, after the rally. “Eight in a row, that’s a personal goal I’ve set for myself and I’m hoping this is the season it happens.” With two rallies left this year, the Sprongls and their quick Audi Quattro continue to dominate over competitors in North America, and are leading that championship too.

A German podium
A good American contingent was part of the competitive field in Parry Sound. In fact, second place honours went to John Kemp and co-driver Rod Hendricksen from Rochester, New York in another Audi Quattro. In fact, it seemed like Octoberfest had come early this year, as the podium was dominated by German cars. John Nichols and co-driver Mike Koch rounded out the top three in a brand-new two-wheel drive Volkswagen Golf. “We rallied the car in Maine, to air it out… but this is the Canadian debut for the Golf,” said Nichols. The car worked extremely well, staying well ahead of some all-wheel drive competition.

Vincent moving up
Golden-boy Sylvain Vincent also debuted a new Subaru Impreza 2.5RS, leaving his Eagle talon at home. Thanks to the efforts of their sponsor, Lachute Subaru and Autopro, Vincent agreed the car ran extremely well. He managed fourth place and enough points to sew-up the 1999 championship title in GT class. “It’s a mathematical win at this point,” Vincent. “Even if we decide not to show up for the next two rallies, we would still win.” But his strategy is moving to Open class by dropping a brand-new 290hp Impreza WRC engine under the hood.

Surprise came from Vancouver rookie Patrick Richard who finished in fifth place with a new Subaru Impreza in only his second rally ever. We’ll have to remember the name.

The Subaru Canadian Rally Championship is presented eight times this year, between February and November. It is sanctioned by the Canadian Association of RallySport and supported by Subaru Canada and Yokohama Tire (Canada) Inc. Additional information is available from the CARS website at www3.sympatico.ca/rally.cars. Next event takes place in beautiful Charlevoix on November 5 to 7 where organisers forecast a record entry list. Consult their web site at: www.rallye-charlevoix.com

INFORMATION:
CARS (905) 640 6444
Stephan Mostad smostad@hotmail.ca
Michel Poirier-Defoy (450) 491 2480
lpindfoy@sympatico.ca

RESULTS
SUBARU CANADIAN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP
Presented by
YOKOHAMA TIRES OF CANADA

EVENT : RALLYE DES VOYAGEURS

# TEAM CAR HOMETOWN CLASS FINAL
1 Frank / Dan Sprongl Audi Quattro S2 Mississauga, ON Open 84:01
2 Jon Kemp / R. Hendricksen Audi Quattro Rochester, N.Y. Open 87:51
3 Jon Nichols / Mike Koch VW Golf GTi Montreal/Ottawa Gr. 2 92:57
4 Sylvain Vincent/D. Cyr Subaru Legacy Laplaine, QC GT 93:52
5 Patrick Richard/I. McCurdy Subaru Impreza Vancouver, BC GT 96:29
6 N. Robinson / C. Lindquist Honda Civic Ohio, USA Gr. 2 98:05
7 John / Clark Paynter Subaru Impreza Sackville, NS GT 98:24
8 Marc Racine / Luc Piché Honda Civic Joliette, QC Gr. 2 100:03
9 Yves Barbe / P. Bazinet Eagle Talon Laval, QC Open 100:45
10 C. Hammer/P. Péloquin Suzuki Swift GTi Montreal, Qc Gr.2 102:29

The high points:

• The Sprongls extend their winning streak to six in 99 and earn sixth Canadian Title
• Sylvain Vincent gets GT title and increases his second place in the Championship
• Level of attrition was low and roads forgiving
• Plenty of newcomers put on a show, like Patrick Richard from British Columbia
• Numbers of Subaru entries increases at each event

The low points:

• The McGeers were again plagued with bad luck and did not complete
• Roads surface was soft and was chewed with deep ruts
• There stages had to be cancelled

The Subaru Canadian Rally Championship is presented eight times this year, between February and November. It is sanctioned by the Canadian Association of Rallysport and supported by Subaru Canada and Yokohama Tire (Canada) Inc. Additional information is available from the CARS website at: www3.sympatico.ca/rally.cars or www.kwrc.on.ca this event’s organising club: the Kitchener-Waterloo Rally Club.