Bangor, Maine, USA -- Last Ditch Racing found the first ditch at the 2003 edition of the Rally of the Tall Pines in Bancroft, Ontario, claiming the dubious honor of being the first DNF at the rally this year. This is the team's first DNF of the 2003 season.

Driver/owner John Cassidy and Co-driver Dave Getchell had several successful shakedown runs on Friday prior to taking the start on Saturday. Said Cassidy, "The car was awesome-the recent improvements were made were significant and the feeling in the car was very good."

The team started the event on the same gravel tires on Saturday-a mistake they'd soon regret. "We were going to change to snow tires as there was some frost in the shade, but events conspired against us prior to having to put the car in the Parc Expose," said Cassidy. Starting SS1 on hard compound gravel tires in the cold temperatures resulted in near zero traction for the turbocharged Subaru Impreza.

"We had a few serious tank slappers early on in the stage and then entered a left turn over a crest downhill. We didn't realize it was also off camber and slid wide. We thought we were going into the woods, but we found a large rock on the side of the road that was happy to stop us and bounce us back into the road," said Cassidy. The team rolled to a stop at the bottom of the hill, unable to continue due to extensive damage to the front left suspension and the intercooler system for the car.

The team has already begun the damage assessment process and the car will be in top shape for their next event, the Rallye Perce-Neige Maniwaki in early February 2004. The team will contest the Canadian Rally Championship in 2004 in the Open Class as well as entering select US events.

The team would like to extend thanks to their 2003 sponsors:

• http://www.mainehost.com
• http://www.primmracing.com
• http://www.triplecaution.us

For more information on Last Ditch Racing, please visit
http://www.lastditchracing.net
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