FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 14, 2000 |
For more information, contact: Dave Watts Phone: (330) 584-6303 E-Mial: dave@relentlessrallysport.com |
Lake Orion, Michigan -- Relentless Rallysport ended their first full year of competition in the Subaru Canadian Rally Championship sponsored by Yokohama with a complete domination of the Novice Championship, but fell just short of their dreams of a class championship due to a spectacular crash at the last event of the season.
Even though the team scored no points at the last event, they were still able to finish 2nd in the Production GT Class Championship, 5th in the Overall Driver's Championship, and 4th Overall in the Overall Co-driver's Championship. Truly an incredible effort for the team's first full year of competition.
"This has really turned out to be an amazing year," says Brian Scott, who owns and drives the team's 1992 Eagle Talon TSi. "If someone had told us at the beginning of this season that we would win the novice class at 6 of the 8 events AND be fighting for the Production GT championship right down to the last event, I don't know if we would have believed them. There is no doubt in my mind that a great deal of credit for our success this season must go to our sponsor, the Tim O'Neil Rally School. There is no way we could have done as well as we have without Tim's generous help."
In the sport of Rally Racing, driver and co-driver teams compete for the fastest times down a series of special stages, which are forest roads temporarily closed to the public. The Production GT class is the fastest of the classes for showroom stock cars, where the only modification allowed is the addition of safety equipment.
Throughout the eight events of the Canadian Association of Rallysport series, the Relentless Rallysport team had a monumental battle with the Rocket Rally Racing Team of Patrick Richard and Ian McCurdy. The Relentless Rallysport Team won the Production GT class two times and finished second at three events. Coming into the last event, The Rally of the Tall Pines, the Relentless Rallysport Team had already clinched the Novice Championship and needed to gain three points on Patrick Richard to claim the Production GT Championship.
With the championship on the line, both Brian and Patrick came out of the gates flying. Unfortunately for the Relentless team, it was a short battle. A misjudged corner early in the event led to a spectacular roll that resulted in minimal damage to the car, but the team was unable to continue as they were stuck in the swamp where they landed. Of small consolation was the fact that Brian and Dave later learned that a TSN camera covering the event caught the entire accident on tape. "At least we're sure to make the highlight films," commented Brian. "The entire team would like to thank the TSN cameramen, crews, and management for the great season of rally coverage."
"We all wanted the championship, but it was still an incredible year," Scott Radabaugh, Crew Chief, explains. "We are very lucky that such a spectacular crash did only minor damage to the car and the egos. Getting the car ready for next year will not be very difficult."
Both Brian Scott, from Lake Orion, Michigan, and David Watts, from North Benton, Ohio, are Mechanical Engineers who work in the Automotive Industry. The Relentless Rallysport Service Crew is the husband and wife team of Scott and Marlena Radabaugh. Relentless Rallysport is sponsored by Tim O'Neil's Rally Driving School.
For more information, contact:
Dave Watts (330) 584-6303
dave@relentlessrallysport.com
Or visit the following websites:
The Team Website www.RelentlessRallysport.com
Team O'Neil Car Control Center www.teamoneil.com
Canadian Association of Rallysport www.carsrally.ca