VANCOUVER, BC -- It's down to the last event: British Columbian-based Rocket Rally Racing's performance at this weekend's Rally of the Tall Pines will determine who captures the Production GT driver's and co-driver's titles in the 2000 Subaru Canadian Rally Championship. This event, known for its mix of icy and hard-packed gravel roads, will cover 388 kilometres of closed forestry roads outside Bancroft, Ontario on November 24 and 25.

The class lead for top honours has flip-flopped several times over the course of the season, between Rocket Rally Racing and the American team of Brian Scott and David Watts. All of the events have been close. At the previous event, Rallye International de Charlevoix, Rocket Rally Racing beat the team of Scott and Watts by less than 10 seconds, after over 1,000 kilometres of rallying.

"The Canadian points system rewards consistency, so even though we have won four of the seven events, we are still battling for first place, since we rolled at Rocky Mountain Rally and were time-barred from Rally of the Voyageurs," said Patrick Richard, Rocket Rally Driver. Richard has a very slight lead in the driver's championship over Scott, and only needs to place second this weekend to clinch the title.

Ian McCurdy, Rocket Rally Navigator, who was unable to make one of the events this season, is in second place in the co-driver's championship, eight points behind Watts. "David [Watts] has essentially clinched the co-driver's championship, unless we win and they don't finish. So we are going to be pushing for the win this weekend," said McCurdy.

Despite this being just his first full season of competition, Richard has captured the Production GT driver's title in the American-based SCCA ProRally Championship and in the North American Rally Cup. Capturing the Canadian Production GT Driver's Championship will enable Richard to complete an unprecedented triple-crown victory in North American rallying. That would bode well for the team's associate sponsors, DMS Shock Absorbers, Specialty Subaru of North Vancouver, SPD Tuning Service and Dragon Eyewear. "Our sponsors entered our program this year with expectations we have far surpassed. We are hoping to deliver to them something that has never been done before and set a record that will stand over time," said Richard.

For more information contact:
(East Coast)
Nathalie Richard, Rocket Rally Boss
media@rocketrally.com
Phone 416-922-9222

(West Coast)
Patrick Richard, Rocket Rally Driver
info@rocketrally.com
1409 Pendrell Street
Vancouver, BC V6G1S3
Phone 604-803-6095
Fax 604-803-6095