Oregon Trail: Subaru Rally Team USA preview

X Games Medalist Record-Holder Dave Mirra Leads Charge for Subaru Heading into 2010 Oregon Trail Rally
- Teammate Pastrana Foregoes Event Due to Schedule Conflict -

(May 12, 2010) Subaru Rally Team USA driver Dave Mirra will be the lone team entry in this weekend's 2010 Oregon Trail Rally based in and around Portland, Oregon. A previously scheduled engagement with the Nitro Circus Live tour in Australia precludes Subaru driver Travis Pastrana, the 4-time defending Rally America National Champion, from competing at the Oregon Trail Rally. Mirra currently holds 4th Overall in the 2010 Rally America National Championship standings while teammate Pastrana sits in 2nd having won the last round of the series, the Olympus Rally, late last month.

Pastrana will headline Nitro Circus Live in Australia this month, a series of stadium based events that will feature action sports stars performing never before seen tricks and stunts in a spectacular live action format.

The Oregon Trail Rally, round four of the 2010 Rally America National Championship, features over 115 miles of competition run over the course of three days. The action kicks off this Friday in Portland with a night of fan-friendly mixed-surface stages at Portland International Raceway. The bulk of the rally however will take place east of Portland in the Mt. Hood area on technical and flowing gravel roads. The ever changing Pacific Northwest weather adds to the challenge for drivers and crews. Area roads can get extremely muddy and wet with rain; however, it is just as possible for them to be dry and dusty.

Mirra, driving a BFGoodrich Tires-shod 2010 Subaru Impreza WRX STI enters the Oregon Trail Rally on a high note after having earned his best-ever national finish at the previous round , the Olympus Rally, where he placed 3rd Overall.. "I can't wait to get out to the Oregon Trail Rally and pick up where I left off at Olympus. My pace was solid but I'm not where I want to be yet," explains Mirra. "I'm progressively getting quicker and more confident in my new, more powerful Subaru [Impreza WRX] STI this season, but I feel I made a lot of progress at Olympus. I'm hoping to find some more at Oregon and get a bit faster still." Mirra will again have co-driver Martin Headland sitting alongside.

Dave Mirra will meet fans at the Oregon Trail Rally Fan Appreciation Show this Thursday (May 13, 2010) from 11 am - 1 pm at Pioneer Courthouse Square in downtown Portland. Later that same day, Mirra and his #40 Subaru Impreza WRX STI raly car will make an appearance at Dick Hannah Subaru in the Vancouver Auto Mall from 6:00pm - 7:30pm for an autograph session.

The Friday Fan Spectacular at Portland International Raceway (PIR) begins at 6 pm kicking off with a Parc Expose (car display) where fans can view the competition cars up close and mingle with drivers. This will be followed by a series of mixed surface competitive special stages specifically designed for spectator viewing.

-source: rally.subaru.com