USRC: Rally New York pre-event notes

Stars Gather at Rally New York USA

Approximately 49 cars are expected to take the starter's flag at Rally New York USA 2006 (Monticello, New York, April 7-8). The drivers and co-drivers will represent the United States, Canada, Europe and South America, including many of the front-runners in the Unites States Rally Championship. While it is not possible to predict who the top finishers will be, some of them are likely come from among the following:

David Anton (USA)/Robbie Durant (UK), Subaru Impreza WRX STi - This team was in the top five in last Fall's International Rally New York 2005 until their car failed. Durant is a former British Junior Champion co-driver, and one of eight competitors selected for the MSA British Rally Academy which is aimed at Britain's 17- to 25-year-old future stars.

Emilio Arce (Argentina)/Sara Gardescu (USA), Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS - Arce will be back to try to duplicate the stock class win (and perhaps better the fifth overall) that he achieved in International Rally New York '05.

Seamus Burke (Ireland)/(co-driver to be announced), Mitsubishi Lancer Evo - The Georgia-based Irish driver was runner up in the 2005 Eastern States Rally Championship, with wins in the Sandblast Rally (South Carolina) and Rally New York. He arrives here having just won the Sandblast for the fifth time in a row.

Eric Burmeister (USA)/David Shindle (USA), Mazda 3 - The Mazdaspeed team is a contender for the two-wheel-drive section of the rally and the U.S. Rally Championship.

Bruce Davis (USA)/Jimmy Brandt (USA), Dodge Neon SRT-4 - Davis won the national title in the Production GT class in 2004. Brandt has among the highest lifetime points totals for a co-driver.

Otis Dimiters (Latvia)/Alan Ockwell (Canada), Subaru Impreza WRX STi - Dimiters put his car into the lead early in International Rally New York '05, but then suffered an off-course excursion. This team could be on the podium at the finish this time.

Jeremy Drislane (USA)/Barry Goodman (USA), Mitsubishi Lancer Evo4 - They finished fourth in the Eastern States Rally Championship section of International Rally New York '05, and also placed second in the 2006 Sandblast Rally. Drislane is the son of three-time Rally New York winner John Drislane.

Patrick Farrell (Ireland)/Bernard Farrell (Ireland), Subaru Impreza - Patrick Farrell finished second in last Spring's Rally New York. This time he will be working with his brother Bernard, who has co-driven for several teams in the past.

Scott Gardner (USA)/Constantine Mantopoulos (Greece), Audi S2 Quattro - Despite a consistent performance in International Rally New York '05, an engine failure left this team disappointed. Mantopoulos is a former North American champion co-driver in his class, who also placed second overall in the Northeast series as a driver in '96.

Michael Hall (USA)/Dave Stockdill (USA), Mitsubishi Mighty Max pickup - This team is a favorite among the truck crowd, and always one of the best- placed two-wheel-drive vehicles. They won the M1 (modified) class in the Eastern States championship segment of International Rally New York '05.

Matt Iorio (USA)/Ole Holter (USA), Subaru Impreza - They placed second in the 2005 U.S. Rally Championship, and were front-runners in International Rally New York until they went off the road.

Tom Lawless (Ireland)/(co-driver to be announced), Mitsubishi Lancer Evo8 - Lawless was 2005 U.S. Rally Champion, with victories in International Rally New York, the Ramada Express Rally (Nevada), and the Cherokee Trails Rally (Tennessee). The Rally New York events are among his favorites, perhaps because they are the closest to his home in Yonkers, New York.

Mark Lawrence (UK)/Robert Maciejski (Poland), Volkswagen Golf - One of the top two-wheel-drive entries, and 2004 Eastern States Rally Champions in their class.

Patrick Lilly (Ireland)/(co-driver to be announced), Subaru Impreza WRX - A frequent top-ten finisher here, and third in the 2005 Eastern States Rally Championship.

Danny O'Brien (Ireland)/Stephen Duffy (Ireland), Subaru Impreza WRC STi - This team won the Eastern States Rally Championship in 2004 and 2005.

Blake Yoon (USA)/Chrissie Beavis (USA) - Yoon, a veteran circuit racer, will return after a good performance in International Rally New York '05. His co-driver will be the very talented Ms. Beavis, who placed third in International Rally New York '05 navigating for Peter Workum.

-rny-