Last week saw the opening round of the Canadian Rally Championship, at the Rallye Perce-Neige in Maniwaki, QC. This would be one of the most competitive rounds of the championship, with many of the top teams in North America present - including Travis Pastrana and David Higgins with Subaru Team USA.
Conditions where typical of a February in Canada, with the roads layered with snow and ice. Many drivers would struggle to adapt, with Maxime Labrie rolling after hitting a snow bank.
Troubles would also come for Antione l'Estage and Alan Ockwell, in the Rocket Rally Racing Subaru. Although comfortably leading the rally for the first three stages, driveline issues meant they would lose their four wheel drive system, forcing them down to third. They would eventually be forced to retire in the final stages, and unable to complete the rally.
No such troubles where had for the returning "Crazy" Leo Urlichich, and his freshly built Production class Subaru N12, built by Can Jam. Urlichich, along with his co-driver Alex Kihurani would show great consistent pace throughout the event, able to move up when the top teams encountered issues. He would take not only the production-class win, but the overall win also!
“I love the studded tires, there are no more big moments and instead we had really consistent driving. It almost seems too easy, but it was a good event.” - Urlichich
Congratulations and commiserations to the respected drivers and teams, and good luck at the next round of the CRC, the Rock Mountain Rally at Invermere, BC at the end of May.