ProRally: Lake Superior Thursday Notes

D&N Bank Lake Superior PRO Rally The Ottawa Divisional PRO Rally The Auto Value Keweenaw Challenge Divisional PRO Rally Round #8 - 1998 Michelin PRO Rally Championship October 23-24, 1998 10/22/98 - 6:00 PM 5. Paul Choiniere/Jeff Becker will have an uphill battle to capture their seventh straight national title. After their rear suspension problems, they managed to scratch their way back to 13th overall in their Hyundai Tiburon two weeks ago in Prescott, AZ, but the David Summerbell/Michael Fennell Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV scored 17 big points to take a 15-point lead going into the last event. With neither driver having to drop points, Summerbell can clinch the championship by finishing 6th or higher, no matter where Choiniere finishes. Conversely, even if Summerbell DNF's, he wins the title if Choiniere finishes any lower that second. The overall co-driver points are much closer, with Becker leading Fennell by only five points.

6. With the Noel Lawler Hyundai Elantra victory in Prescott, Hyundai clinches the overall manufacturers championship - the Korean marques third straight win.

7. In Production, Trevor Donison/John Allen in the Plymouth Neon finished second in class in Prescott to take an 83 - 66 points lead over the Honda Civic of Jay Kowalik/Scott Embree. Embree has already clinched the co-drivers national title, but Kowalik will have to win the Lake Superior PRO Rally if Donison finishes here in the UP. In order to help Kowalik, teammate Bryan Hourt has revamped his suspension to run his Honda Civic in Production instead of Group 2 to try to put more possible places between Kowalik and Donison.

8. The Ralph Kosmides/Joe Noyes Toyota Supra twin turbo Group 5 car has a terrific maiden season, including three wins and a national championship. With a good showing this weekend, Ralph and Joe will try to help Toyota win the manufacturers title. Right now, Toyota has a 13-point lead on Mazda, with both the Mike Hurst/Rob Bohn and the Craig Kazmierczak/Diane Sargent Mazda RX-7s ready to help the rotary cause if Ralph falters. Added to the mix is the Henry/Cindy Krolikowski Dodge Shadow - the 1996 Group 5 champs - ready to finish in the top three in class.

9. 22 cars participated in the press stage at Keweenaw Research Center test tracks - part of the Michigan Tech University auto tech program. As usual, the press stage produced news which affects the upcoming event. The David Summerbell/Michael Fennell, with wife Heather Summerbell in the navigator seat for the first time for a ride, lost the engine (threw a rod) in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV. With the championship at stake, several people offered David their car to drive for the event, but it seems that he will be driving the Henry Joy Mitsubishi Lancer Evo II. The T.A.D. Motorsports team is evaluating its options and opportunities, and we should have news in the morning.