VANCOUVER, BC -- Rocket Rally Racing is marking the close of the SCCA ProRally season with a new adventure: driving a Group N car in North America.

The team will be competing at the Lake Superior Pro Rally this weekend in Houghton, Michigan, USA, in the ex-Mark Lovell Prodrive Subaru Impreza WRX. The Subaru will be supported and serviced by Vermont Sportscar. While it was previously run to Open class specifications, the car will be run strictly to Group N international specifications.

"I want to fully maximize this opportunity as a warm-up for the Rally Internationale de Charlevoix in Quebec, Canada, which is in just two weeks," said driver Patrick Richard. Richard is currently in second place overall in the 2001 Subaru Canada Rally Championship, where he drives a 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX for the Subaru Canada Rally Team.

Lake Superior is the final rally of the SCCA ProRally 2001 season. Richard has independently entered most American events this season to develop his driving skills and gain more experience, racing in the unlimited Open Class and now Group N. The event will be only the second in which Richard has driven a Group N car. His first experience was in Australia earlier this year.

"We're teating this event as a personal development experience. I have used the US series this year as an opportunity to grow and develop as a driver, in order to support my Canadian efforts. Before this season, I hadn't even driven a turbo car. Since then, I have experienced Open class power, I have grown accustomed to using a dogbox and I have learned how to properly maximize the differentials," said Richard. "And the training's working: at the last U.S. event we had our first glimpses of speed and have set top stage times along the way. Unfortunately we've been beset by mechanical failures."

Even though they see this event as a good learning experience, Richard and co-driver Ben Bradley still hope for a strong showing. "With all the championships decided, and with most of the Group N cars converted to Open class to capitalize on manufacturer points, we have a tough battle to finish well overall, but we do hope to fare well against the field, which, like the Maine Forest ProRally, includes some of the top talent in North American rallying as well as some international entrants," said Bradley.

Rocket Rally Racing is sponsored by Subaru Canada, OMP, DMS Shock Absorbers, SPD Tuning and Globalstar Communications. Rocket Rally Racing is part of the three-car Subaru Canada Rally Team, but is independently entered in this weekend's event.

Patrick Richard, Rocket Rally Driver
info@rocketrally.com
www.rocketrally.com
p. (604) 803-6095