VANCOUVER, BC -- Rocket Rally Racing grabbed its third production class win this season and came second overall at the Rallye Baie des Chaleurs, held this past weekend in New Richmond, Quebec. The event, round five of the Subaru Canadian Rally Championship, consisted of flat-out racing on 200 kilometres of spectator-lined gravel roads in Quebec's Gaspe Peninsula.

"I was a bit surprised we did so well, because the competition was strong. We were able to push hard on Friday night, and we entered the second leg [Saturday] leading our class by several minutes. More surprisingly, we found ourselves in second place overall, with a 40-second lead over Jon Nichol's Open class car. From there we maintained station, pushing hard when necessary to maintain the class lead and our overall position," said Patrick Richard, Rocket Rally Driver. Richard drives a 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX with co-driver Ian McCurdy as part of the three-car Subaru Canada Rally Team. Subarus swept the podium, with Subaru Canada Rally Teammate Tom McGeer finishing in top spot and Nichols, driving a 1999 Subaru WRX, in third.

Richard and McCurdy's 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX is rallied as a production class car, in the P4 class for lightly modified street vehicles. This means that the car has the same engine, transmission and brakes as the cars that are sold in showrooms, and is only modified for safety purposes. The other two vehicles on the podium race in the Open class, consisting of heavily modified, dedicated rally machines.

"It was a very satisfying win. It's one of our favourite events, because the fans are so enthusiastic. It was great to give them a good show," said McCurdy. Rallye Baie des Chaleurs is one of the most heavily fan-attended events in the North American rally circuit.

Rocket Rally Racing and the Subaru Canada Rally Team are supported by OMP, DMS Shock Absorbers and Globalstar Communications.

Rallye Baie des Chaleurs will be televised nationally several times on TSN (The Sports Network) and RDS (le reseau des sports) starting July 22 at 6 p.m. on RDS and July 29 at 6 p.m. on TSN.

Patrick Richard, Rocket Rally Driver
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