Calgary, AB, JUNE 1, 2009 - Subaru Rally Team Canada driver Patrick Richard led from the start at the Rocky Mountain rally held this past weekend near Calgary, AB, to claim his first victory of the season and the overall lead in the 2009 Canadian Rally Championship.
Winning all but one of the event's 13 scheduled stages, Squamish, BC based Richard and his co-driver Alan Ockwell, of Toronto, ON, cruised to the win in their Subaru WRX STi with a stunning margin of over six minutes to their nearest competitor, Andrew Comrie-Picard of Toronto, ON.
"This is a great way to rebound after our last event," explained Richard, referring the previous round of the championship where the team had a win snatched from their grasp when they were forced to retire with just two stages remaining. "This puts the team in a great position for the rest of the season."
Richard's victory this weekend puts him and his co-driver at the top of the Canadian Rally Championship overall standings, tied with Antoine L'Estage and Nathalie Richard, both of St-Jean sur Richelieu, QC. For the majority of the event, this Quebec based duo fought hard to keep up with Richard and Ockwell. "With the championship lead on the line, we knew Antoine wanted to win," explained Ockwell. "He kept us honest until he slowed with mechanical problems." L'Estage, driving a Mitsubishi Evo X, was over a minute behind Richard when he eventually failed to finish the event with differential failure.
"The car ran flawlessly and I have to credit both Subaru Canada, all of our associate sponsors Motul Lubricants, Vision-X Lighting, Crawford Performance and ACT, and our Squamish, BC-based Rocket Rally crew,"exclaimed Richard.
Rocket Rally Racing is based in Squamish, BC, Canada and operates the Subaru Rally Team Canada on behalf of Subaru Canada, with associate sponsors Motul Lubricants, Vision-X Lighting, Crawford Performance and ACT providing product support for the 2009 championship campaign. "Everything ran perfectly and I can't wait for the rest of the season." Richard is looking to add the 2009 Canadian Rally Championship title to his CV, and add that to his multiple American, Canadian and North American overall rally championship titles.
All rounds of the Canadian Rally Championship are televised nationally on TSN, TSN2 and RDS, and internationally. For television times, please check your local listings.
More information about the Canadian Rally Championship can be found at the Canadian Association of Rallysport's website http://www.carsrally.ca/.
Photos, videos and more information about the team can be found at the team's website http://www.blogger.com/www.rocketrally.com
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