Monticello, NY -- Shane Mitchell and co-driver Paul Donnely ran consistently fast stages in their Group N Subaru WRX, and taking advantage of the seized center differential of Eastern States Rally Championship (ESRC) points leader Seamus Burke and co-driver Charles Bradley's Mitsubishi EVO IV late in the event, leapfrogged ahead to take the win in the 2004 Rally New York. Mitchell/Donnely bested the second place pair of John Drislane and co-driver Ronan Burke in a Mitsubishi EVO VIII by more than two minutes over the approximately 72 miles (115 km) of special stages. Celsus Donnelly and co-driver Barry McCann completed the podium in their Mitsubishi EVO II, twenty-three seconds behind Drislane/Burke.

Danny O'Brien and co-driver Garry Ferrell won the limited preparation Super Stock class, expanding their points lead in the Championship, and finishing 11th overall. They were followed by Robert Wall and co-driver Matthew Johnson (14th overall) and Niall Donnelly and co-driver Mark McAllister (15th overall). All three were driving in Subaru WRXs. Randy Zimmer and Co-Driver Russell Strate took the Prototype 2 class win and finished 13th overall in their Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS.

In Modified One class, as expected, Andrew Havas and co-driver Dave Shindle took the checker, finishing 12th overall in Havas' famous orange Mazda RX-7. They bested their nearest two wheel competitors, Production Class winners Jeff Field and Michael Hordjik (16th overall, Toyota Celica) by about 40 seconds. Modified Two class winners were Travis Washay and co-driver Charles Montalbano in a VW Golf.

The fast combination of gravel and tarmac roads took their toll on the field, with 41 out of 64 starters taking the finish.

Organizer Ivan Orisek was extremely pleased with the event. "We've taken competition in the US to the next level. With full notes and recce, and excellently fought battles, I will have to say that the event was a rousing success. The mix of gravel and tarmac kept things exciting for both the teams and the spectators."

The next event in the Eastern States Rally Championship is Round Four, the Cherokee Trails International Rally, taking place on May 15, 2004 on the gravel roads of the Cherokee National Forest outside of Cleveland, Tennessee.

The 2004 running of Rally New York was sanctioned by NASA Rally Sport, organized by Ivan Orisek and Rally New York, Ltd., and constituted Round Three of the ESRC, coordinated by Rally Promotions, LLC. For more information, visit www.rallynewyork.com, www.nasarallysport.com, or contact Dr. Kendall Russell of Rally Promotions, LLC at 10406 Lovell Center Dr. Knoxville, TN 37922; Office: (865) 671-1133; E-mail: kendall@nasarallysport.com.