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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 6, 2006 |
For more information, Contact: John Cassidy Last Ditch Racing E-mail: John@lastditchracing.net Website: www.lastditchracing.net |
Bangor, Maine, USA -- Last Ditch Racing, Maine's premier performance rally team surmounted odds and exceeded expectations at the recent Rallye Perce Neige in Maniwaki Quebec. The first round on the 2006 calendar, Perce Neige is the seasons' only true snow and ice event.
The event marked the introduction of the teams' new rally car, named Steel Tulip 4. The team worked on the silver 2003 WRX without sleep for the 40 hours prior to the event. Against all odds, the team fielded the car and completed the event. Driver John Cassidy was joined in the shop by team members Ed McNally, Duncan Matlack and Mike Rademacher. "Without their help, the car would have never been put on the trailer. We had parts arriving the day we left for the event and it is a testament to their attention to detail and professionalism that a brand new car finished the event without mechanical issues."
The crews completed Perce Neige within a minute of each other, with driver Dave Getchell and co-driver Steve McKelvie finishing ahead of driver John Cassidy and co-driver Erik Lee. The teams finished second and third in Open Class and 5th and 6th overall in the Ontario Provincial Rally Championship portion of the event. The crews finished 15th and 16th overall respectively in the National portion of the event.
The team would especially like to thank the crew at Rallispec for their hard work in getting the gearbox built for the new car and returned on time.
2006 sees the Last Ditch Racing team expanding, with the team adding a second car to the team for select Eastern Canada and US events. The second car, "Steel Tulip 1," will be driven by LDR co-driver/ owner/driver, Dave Getchell. Says Cassidy, "I've been encouraging Dave to field T-1 as the second car and he feels that the time has come for him to challenge some of the events we've done together in the past, but this time from the left seat instead of his usual right. Dave is a fantastic driver and I'm sure his pace will be surprising to more than a few other teams and fans! Dave and I are excited to expand the team and our working relationship."
Cassidy will be co-driven in 2006 by Erik Lee, another fellow Mainer. Lee spent 2005 co-driving Getchell in select regional events. "Erik is a great asset to the team and I'm looking forward to having him in the right seat for the assault on the 2006 championship," said Cassidy.
In just a few weeks, Cassidy and Lee will be piloting a Peugeot 206XS Group A-6 front wheel drive car in the 2006 Corona Rally Mexico, round 3 of the World Rally Championship in Leon Mexico, March 3-5. "To participate in a round of the World Rally Championship is a dream come true," said Cassidy. "We're the first team from Maine to compete in a WRC event, and there's sure to be a large learning curve. The three day event will be longer than we're used to, and the heat and altitude will be a challenge to those of us who live at sea level!" The team will be in Mexico for a week, testing the car and acclimating to the altitude prior to undertaking recce and then the race itself. Recce will see the team pre-running the stages and writing their own pace notes.
The event will see the team cover 1008.09km total over three days of competition, 359,89 of that being special stages.
The team will be introducing daily internet audio programs, called podcasts at the event. Said Cassidy, "We're a technologically savvy team, and are always looking for ways to connect with our fans and team partners. We're hoping that the daily podcasts will give those watching around the world a sense of what it's like to be there with us every day!" Please visit the team's website at http:// www.lastditchracing.net
Last Ditch Racing would like to thank their 2006 team partners for their continued support!
For more information on Last Ditch Racing, please visit: www.lastditchracing.net
For more information on the Corona Rally Mexico, please visit: www.rallymexico.com