| Contact: Michel Poirier-Defoy Tel: (450) 491-2480 E-mail: lpindfoy@sympatico.ca | Date: May 19, 1999 |
| EVENT: | Rally Bighorn | |
| LOCATION: | Hinton/Edson, Alberta | |
| STATUS: Third event in 1999 | May 22-23 | |
| STATS: 19 special stages | 185 Km of speed sections | |
| TOTAL RALLY DISTANCE: 585 Km | One day event |
1999 Standings: Frank Sprongl, 40 points; Sylvain Vincent, 30; Yves Barbe, 20; Jean-Sébastien Besner, 12; Tom McGeer, 10; Jon Nichols, Éric Tremblay, 10
Class Leaders: Open: Sprongl; Production GT: Vincent; Group 2: Hammer; Prod. Sport: Mendham, Lévesque; Prod. 1750: Rosenshein, Krawczyk
Leading Marques: Open: Audi; Group 2: Suzuki; Production GT: Eagle; Prod. Sport: Toyota, Nissan; Prod. 1750: Suzuki, Subaru
| 1999 SUBARU CANADIAN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 12 - 13 | Rallye de Quebec | Quebec City, QC | Frank/Dan Sprongl |
| Feb. 26 - 28 | Rally Perce Neige | Pembroke, ON | Frank/Dan Sprongl |
| May 22 - 23 | Bighorn Rally | Hinton, AB | |
| May 28 - 29 | Rocky Mountain Rally | Calgary, AB | |
| July 2 - 3 | Rallye Baie des Chaleurs | New Richmond, QC | |
| Sept. 10 - 12 | Rally of the Voyageurs | Parry Sound, ON | |
| Oct. 29 - 31 | Rallye Auto Charlevoix | Pointe-au-Pic, QC | |
| Nov. 20 - 21 | Rally of the Tall Pines | Bancroft, ON | |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bighorn has always been a pivotal rally in the battle for top spot. But this year, as the third event in the 1999 Subaru Canadian Rally Championship, it’s going to be crucial. The Hinton, Alberta rally was the exclusive playground for the Sprongl brothers in their Audi Quattro S2, the McGeer couple in their Subaru Impreza WRX, and the late Carl Merrill in his world rally Ford Escort Cosworth.
There’s a new competitor to fill the void Merrill has left: Sylvain Vincent. And if the sponsorship offers are any indication, Vincent and his co-driver Dominique Cyr (both of La Plaine, Que.) are well on their way to an outstanding and competitive year in the Championship.For the two western events, the team’s Eagle Talon will be shod with Yokohama tires, a deal announced recently. Subaru has also upped the ante by promising the team a full rally prepped Subaru 2.5 RS after the western events are complete. Vincent and Cyr, up until now, have worked without major sponsorship and have fought hard to earn their second place in the standings. The generosity of both Yokohama and Subaru prove that rally is one of the best supported sports in Canada; both companies have rewarded hard work and hard driving which are crucial elements of any success of rally team.
19 stages of changing conditions Bighorn competition.may not be match for the weather this year. The forecast calls for rain, meaning normally dry, dusty roads will be turned into slippery paths of mud. The rally course is made up of 19 special stages and 185 kilometres of speed sections for a total of 590. Rally organiser Dave Sharp, says it’s not abnormal to see dust in the first stages, mud in the middle sections, and snow by the end of the rally. changeable conditions are typical for this event.
A whole host of competitors from Alberta, British Columbia, and even Nova Scotia promise to shake up the regulars from Ontario and Quebec. Barry and Sandra Latreille (Cornwall, Ont.) in their Eagle Talon, Eric Tremblay (Sillery, Que.) in his Subaru RS, and Jean Marc Alcaraz (Levis, Que.) in his Mazda, are just some of the old rally hands registered to run. At Bighorn, they’re going to have to deal with the likes of John Paynter (Halifax) in his Subaru Legacy, Gord Olsen (Edmonton) in his Golf GTI, Janusz Komorowski (Calgary) in his Mazda 323, and Paul Westwick (Vancouver) in his Toyota Celica.
The Subaru Canadian Rally Championship is presented eight times in 1999, 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.
INFORMATION: CARS (905) 640 6444
Stephan Mostad smostad@hotmail.ca
Michel Poirier-Defoy (450) 491 2480 lpindfoy@sympatico.ca