Rally America Season Preview

If there is one series that seems to be doing well in these tough economic times, it is Rally America.  With the traditional start of their season next week at the Sno*Drift Rally (Jan. 30-31), Rally America appears to be the only professional racing series in North America that is actually thriving.

"The rest of the motorsports world seems full of tough news and tougher times, but we are bucking the current trend, and seeing an upswing in interest and sponsor participation for 2009," said Rally America managing director J.B. Niday.

"We have many new faces, new cars adding to the familiar competitors from 2008. The most exciting new challenger so far is Andy Mancin, who comes to the Rally America championship as an accomplished Polish rally and road race competitor and team owner.”

Returning to the Rally America Series this year is three-time and defending national champion Travis Pastrana, driving for Subaru Rally Team USA.  Travis is by far the most recognizable name in the series.  Who can forget his double flip on a motorcycle at the 2007 X-Games?  Questions are still there regarding his physical condition as he sustained injuries that kept him from participating at the race of Champions.

Pastrana will face familiar challengers, including his Subaru teammate Ken Block, who is probably best know for his viral video, “Ken Block Gymkhana Practice.”  If you haven’t seen the video, be prepared to see a stunning example of car control.

The busiest man in Motorsports, Rockstar Energy Drink driver Tanner Foust, makes a return to the Rally America Series, managing to squeeze it into his tight schedule somewhere between competing in the Formula D Drifting Series and hosting the soon to debut U.S. Version of Top Gear.

Others returning are the always competitive Andrew Comrie-Picard and 2008 Sno*Drift winner Antoine L’Estage.

The 2009 Rally America National Championship also marks the debut of the popular new Super Production (SP) class, which replaces Production GT (PGT) this year.  SP rules allow very limited modifications to high performance cars such as the Subaru WRX STI and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.

2008 PGT National Champion Pat Moro headlines a deep field of SP challengers at Sno*Drift that includes 2008 Rally America rookie of the year Dave Mirra and X-Games 14 drivers Matthew Johnson and Travis Hanson, along with rally veterans Piotr Wiktorczyk, Evan Cline, Jaroslaw Sozanski, Jimmy Keeney, and Brian Pepp.

Following in the footsteps of Travis Pastrana and Valentino Rossi, newcomer Dillon Van Way continues a trend of motorcycle competitors jumping to four wheel competition in Rally America as he challenges Chris Greenhouse for 2WD honors at Sno*Drift.

The 2009 Rally America National Championship season begins Jan. 30-31 with the Sno*Drift rally in Atlanta, Mich. North America’s best rally drivers will test their winter driving skills against the challenge from the snow banks and icy roads of this classic winter rally.