LaMalbaie, Quebec -- The Rallye International de Charlevoix took place this past weekend in the beautiful Charlevoix region of Quebec. And what a rally it was! Sixty-three teams took the start for the most important event of the year. Sadly almost two thirds of those teams would not finish after a tough war of attrition. Two AM Rallysport, however, did finish with a second place in Production Sport class and 11th overall in the National portion of the rally.

This rally, which was the first in Canada to take place under the International FIA standards and regulations, produced many challenges for the Two AM team. First off, regular co-driver, Martyn Appleford, was unable to attend. With this event using pace notes - a first for Canada - (pace notes are a series of short hand notes describing every turn and crest on the course) it was important a good co-driver be found. Fortunately Ole Holter decided to make the flight from Long Beach, California. Driver Andrew Miller had this to say, "I am really glad he came out for this event, he was fantastic, he really contributed to our placing."

Ole and Andrew had the opportunity to get used to each other over the three days of practice and then it was time for three days of racing. This is where the adventure began. Stage 2, Bataram, on Friday saw the team loose almost 8 minutes while they repaired a freak electrical fault in the car's ignition system. On stage 4, Bataram, run a second time, troubles included loosing all their brake fluid and thus falling back even further from class leaders Scott Comens and Harry Pressy.

With brakes repaired and electrical problems patched, it was on to day two, 100 Km north of the starting point of La Malbaie. Within the first three stages on Saturday, they overtook the placing of the three teams between them and the class leader. As it began to snow, it was time to play it conservative, "We were still about 6-1/2 minutes back of Comens so we figured play it safe and just drive to finish," said Holter.

The snow had other surprises in store for the team. On a transit back down through the hills, while stopped in a line of traffic, the Two AM Volkswagen Golf was unceremoniously rear-ended by a local spectator. Insurance numbers were exchanged (in French and English), the police were informed, and the team set off in the ever increasing snow to try and finish the days events. It wasn't to be; the weather had closed the main road back to La Malbaie and the team was forced to take the long route home.

Sunday morning the team woke to 25cm of snow on the ground and a special exception granted by rally officials for teams caught in the weather. The Two AM team was allowed to continue in the now shortened (again due to the weather) rally. Two short stages and a correction of a typo in the scores (the team had erroneously been given a 19 minute penalty) and the rally was over.

After a short snowball fight and a LONG drive home, the team is now repairing the car for the next event, the Rally of the Tall Pines in Bancroft, Ontario on November 24-25.

Two AM Rallysport participates in the Ontario Performance Rally Championship which consists of 5 events run from February to November, and is about the most challenging racing series in Ontario. Teams compete in timed runs over narrow twisty closed roads at high speeds.

Two AM Rallysport competes in the Production Sport class with help from its sponsors AM Innovations Inc., Volkswagen Waterloo, Dave's Tire Discounter, Frisco Auto Parts, and Pennzoil 10 Minute Oil Change Center.

Information:
Two AM Rallysport
A-18 550 Parkside Drive
Waterloo, Ontario N2L 5Z4
Phone: 519-883-8288
Fax: 519-883-0356
E-Mail: twoam@aminnovations.on.ca

Rallye International Charlevoix
www.rallye-charlevoix.com

Ontario Performance Rally Championship
www.rallysport.on.ca