TORONTO (May 20, 2008) - The Mitsubishi Canadian rally brigade will have seven crews entering the Rocky Mountain Rally, the next event scheduled in the Canadian Rally Championship, this weekend out of Calgary, Alberta.
Close to 40 teams from Canada and the United States will meet in the Stampede Capital for this two-day (May 23 – 24) and 635 kilometre run over the surrounding country roads in the Kananaskis and the Porcupine Hills regions. Altitude and unpredictable weather conditions are factors the crews will have to cope with. But the teams, led by veteran Canadian Andrew Comrie-Picard at the helm of an EVO 9RS along with his codriver, American Marc Goldfarb, are used to these conditions.
"The 2008 maiden event in Quebec was outstanding for our rally teams, claims Peter Renz, Director, National Marketing for Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada. "Three of them filled the Top 5 places and we couldn't ask for more in these difficult winter conditions. It is an indication that our products can stand those rough conditions and our drivers and codrivers are very talented. For having attended such gruelling events before, I have the greatest respect for the crews, those who throw their Lancer Evos sideways in every curve as well as those who service them along the events."
Vying for three class wins: Looking for the open class and outright win in their Lancer EVO 9RS will be frontrunners Comrie-Picard and Goldfarb. ACP finished second last year and is looking to step on the podium again, albeit on top. Zbigniew Zebe Szewczyk et Tomasz Karzynski are the local heroes. Zebe is the Group 5 Western defending champion and has netted Top 10 positions regularly, with a fifth overall last year: he is looking for a class victory and a Top 10 finish.
Three crews from Quebec are traveling out west: the Losier family will have at least a member in each of them. Rejean is a seasoned veteran driver and will steer his EVO 8. Simon and Maxime compose the younger crew while Martin will codrive Ontarian Francisco Pereira. They all agree being rookies in this event is an extra challenge but they feel a Top 10 finish is within their reach.
Finally, Jan and Jody Zedril from Manitoba come to Calgary with a lead in the P3 class after their victorious outing in Maniwaki. Last year runner-up in this class, they expect to increase their class lead. Competition could come from the only lady crew of Jen Horsey et Élise Racette in another production Lancer.
"All these teams are enjoying some subsidy from our contingency program", notes Mr Renz. "They get some entry fee and tow money, prizes according to their class or overall standings and part of the year-end 5000$ prize fund and the Mitsubishi Cup. We will also have on location a kiosk with promotional items for the fans."
Event profile: Second round of the Canadian Rally Championship, the 35th edition of Rocky Mountain Rally will get underway Friday afternoon at 1:00 PM from downtown Calgary, Alberta. It will consist of 635 kilometres over the Kananaskis and Porcupine Hills (Saturday) regions. 13 speed stages will total 185 km of sheer speed, with two of them held at Race City Speedway. Podium ceremony is expected Saturday evening around 7:00 PM. For further information, please visit the RMR web site at www.rockymountainrally.com
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