CACHE CREEK, BC -- The team of Janusz Komorowski and Tomasz Karzynski, of Calgary, Alberta, took top honours in the Mountain Trials Rally, extending their lead in the Western Canadian Rally Championship.

Komorowski, driving a Mazda 323GTX, finished 35 seconds ahead of Paul Westwick and Andrew Dobric, of Vancouver, BC, with whom they traded fastest stage times all day. Westwick was fastest in the uphill sections, in his Toyota Celica AllTrac, but Komorowski soared past on the downhill stages, taking the lead on the second stage, and never looking back.

The teams were all challenged by the steep elevation changes, with over 800 meters rise in one 7km section alone. The course severly strained cooling systems on the way up, and brakes on the way down. This rally used forest access roads in the scenic Arrowstone Hills, east of Cache Creek, and proved very popular with both drivers and spectators alike.

Fastest in the two wheel drive class was the team of Peter Hill and Barry Gurnsey, of Calgary, Alberta, driving a Toyota Corolla, just 33 seconds ahead of Martin Wilson and Bill Westhead, of Vancouver, BC, also in a Toyota Corolla. "The roads were totally excellent," said Hill, "challenging without being frightening."

This sort of event wouldn't be possible without the support of its corporate sponsors, Nokian Tyres, Specialty Subaru and Wilkinson's Automobilia. All of the teams, officials, and out-of-town spectators appreciated the warm welcome in Cache Creek, especially from the Desert Motel and the Wander Inn. "Awesome!" commented Bill Westhead, "Let's do it again soon."

The championship now moves on to Nanaimo, BC for the Edge of the Rock Rally, July 15, before returning again to Cache Creek on September 23, for the Pacific Forest Rally. The season finale will be in Calgary at the Kananaskis Rally, November 19.

Results of the Mountain Trials Rally

Presented by:
Nokian Tyres http://www.nokiantyres.com
Specialty Subaru http://www.specialtysubaru.com
Wilkinson's Automobilia http://www.wilkinsonsauto.com

Pos. Driver/Navigator                     Hometowns                 Car                   Time
 1   Janusz Komorowski / Tomasz Karzynski Calgary                   Mazda 323 GTX         31:08
 2   Paul Westwick/Andrew Dobric          Vancouver/N. Vancouver    Toyota Celica AllTrac 31:43
 3   Bob Trinder / Andy White             Vancouver                 Toyota Celica AllTrac 32:22
 4   Peter Hill / Barry Gurnsey           Calgary                   Toyota Corolla        33:23
 5   Martin Wilson / Bill Westhead        Vancouver                 Toyota Corolla        33:56
 6   Zbigniew Szewczyk / Piotr Krol       Calgary                   Toyota Celica AllTrac 34:55
 7   Maciej Ogrocki / Mike Nicols         Calgary                   Honda Civic           35:11
 8   Mark Ward / Ken Kwong                Delta                     Datsun PL510          36:06
 9   Bud Stanley / Matt Southcott         Maple Ridge/Pt. Coquitlam Toyota MR2            37:22

http://www.rallybc.com/html/mt_trials_results.html

Overall Championship Positions:
(1). Janusz Komorowski: 92 points
(2). Gord Olsen: 67 points
(3). Patrick Richard 64 points
(4). Peter Hill: 58 points
(5). Paul Westwick: 54 points

For more information:
Bill Westhead 604.258.2758 biwes@portal.ca
Paul Westwick 604.682.3296
Rally Pacific Motorsports
http://www.rallybc.com