Vancouver, BC -- Canadian rally champion and North American Group N champion Patrick Richard is preparing to defend his Canadian title on home turf at the 2003 Pacific Forrest Rally in Merritt, BC, this weekend. This is the 5th round of the Canadian Championship and Patrick and co-driver Ian McCurdy, who both reside in BC, will be competing for the first time in their home province.

This is where it all started for Patrick and Ian, who emerged from obscurity three short years ago and blasted their way to the top of the Canadian Championship in 2002. The duo, who are old school friends, cut their teeth on the dusty back-roads of Whistler, BC. It is especially poignant that they are now defending the title on home turf.

2003 will be the first time in two decades that BC will host a Canadian championship event. Patrick, who has been instrumental in the growth of performance rally in BC, is proud to see his home province finally join Alberta, Ontario and Quebec in hosting a national rally event.

"Pat was one of the original people who really helped push performance rally to be resurrected in BC" said rally organizer Ken Kwong. "He was on the original organizing committee of the West Coast Rally Association in 2000 when we were starting to organize events in Cache Creek."

"I won't have much of a home advantage because I haven't seen the roads since the venue moved to Merritt" said Patrick. "However it is nice to be supported by a home crowd and I plan to put on a good show for them."

Patrick and the Subaru Rally Team Canada will be racing the 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi that had its debut at the Bighorn Rally on May 17th. Early teething problems such as a tire de-lamination and an unreliable 5th gear that troubled the vehicle in its first and second race should now be a thing of the past as the team prepares it for its third race.

The Pacific Forrest Rally begins at the Merritt Civic Centre on June 13th and continues in the surrounding mountains the following day. Immediately after the event in Merritt, Patrick and Subaru Rally Team Canada will travel to Cyprus to compete in the World Rally Championship on June 20th. This will be the fourth WRC event for Patrick, who is the only North American to be competing in the international championship.

For further information about Patrick Richard go to: http://www.patrickrichard.com

Further information about the event: http://www.pacificforestrally.com/

Press inquiries: Tim Gage
timgage@patrickrichard.com
604 737 2531