With over twenty-five two-wheel-drive rally cars entered, the eastern round of the MaxAttack! Series boasts a $5,000 event prize fund and valuable points towards the Jake Himes Cup.
Portland, OR (July 14, 2011) – The second round of the 2011 MaxAttack! Series, presented by the Danza del Sol Winery, has received another strong entry, with teams from all over the United States and Canada converging at the Sunday River ski resort in Maine to contest more than 100 stage miles, over twisty and fast gravel stages, in both Maine and New Hampshire. Last year saw a classic battle for two-wheel-drive supremacy at this event, and this year the competition should be just as exciting.
The opening round of the 2011 MaxAttack! season took place at the historic Olympus Rally in Washington state. New Hampshire resident Wyatt Knox made the long trek west, and was rewarded when he and co-driver Ole Holter drove to the victory and a $1500 first-place check. Local teams finished second and third with brothers Tom and Don Burress (Washington) finishing runners-up in a turbocharged VW Golf, with Dave Henderson and Terry McDowell (Oregon) just behind them in their Mazda3.
The fight for the New England win should be a ferocious one, with any one of a number of teams poised to take victory. Past MaxAttack! event winner Doug Shepherd is making the journey from Michigan to Maine, and has again selected two-time MaxAttack! co-driving champion Karen Jankowski to handle right-seat duties in a very potent Dodge SRT-4; this team is considered one of the favorites. Wyatt Knox and Ole Holter are sure to challenge in their Mazda, as are Dillon Van Way and Jake Blattner in their Ford Fiesta. Another Fiesta, the R2 of local Maine hot-shoe Chris Duplessis and co-driver Catherine Woods, is bound to be part of the reckoning. The Scion of Andrew Comrie-Picard and Jeremy "Worm" Wimpey looks to improve on its Washington showing, and in ACP's hands it should do just that.
Local Maine teams are once again out in force in 2011. Michael Reilly and Josh Benthien, from Cape Neddick and South Portland respectively, return to the New England Forest Rally in a Ford Focus. Driver Kristen Przybysz is from Raymond, and teams with Meghan Roy in a Subaru Impreza. They are one of two all-female teams entered in this year's rally. Another Impreza, that of Kevin Turner, has Old Town's Robert Sockalexis reading the stage notes. As mentioned, Chris Duplessis from nearby Mason Township will be a favorite in his Ford Fiesta, along with co-driver Catherine Woods. Mike White, from Camden, fields the Rallyho Saab 900 with co-driver George Loef. White is an experienced New England Forest Rally competitor, but this is a new rally car that will make its debut this weekend. And Edward McNelly, from Oxford, will drive a Group 2 VW Golf with Pascal Belperron in the co-driver's seat.
Some other interesting two-wheel-drive cars are returning to the New England Forest Rally. The Volkswagen Rabbit TDi of Justin Carven and Geoff Clark is tuned to run on leftover cooking oil. The team had a great rally last year, finishing on the national rally podium. Greg Healey is bringing out his classic Datsun 280Z, and in a bid to return to a MaxAttack! money position he has enlisted the aid of veteran Michigan-based co-driver Cindy Krolikowski. Also returning to the New England Forest Rally after a strong run last year is the Canadian duo of Martin Walter and Ferd Trauttmansdorf in a Nissan 240SX. This team turned heads with their speed in last year's Targa Newfoundland rally, but a visit to a ditch meant that they were unable to finish. A spectator favorite is bound to be the iconic British Mark II Ford Escort fielded by Michael Gillespie and Brian Kirby.
The MaxAttack! Rally Series Presented by Danza del Sol consists of three events across the country, and each event features a $5,000 prize fund to be distributed among the top two-wheel-drive teams, as well as a season championship with the winners receiving coveted Jake Himes Cup. For more information about the MaxAttack! Series and the Rallysports Group of America, please visit http://www.max-attack.com.
The three events that will constitute the 2011 MaxAttack! Rally Series Presented by Danza del Sol are:
• Olympus Rally, April 30-May 1, Ocean Shores, WA, http://www.olympusrally.com
• New England Forest Rally, July 15-16, Bethel, ME, http://www.newenglandforestrally.com
• Lake Superior Performance Rally, October 14-16, Houghton, MI, http://www.lsprorally.com
The Olympus Rally and the New England Forest Rally are the west and east coast Qualifying events, and the Lake Superior Performance Rally is the central Shootout event.
About Danza del Sol Winery
Nestled in the rolling hills of the beautiful Temecula Wine Valley, Danza Del Sol Winery is a thirty-five acre estate winery located in Southern California’s Wine Country. While Danza Del Sol’s tasting room officially opened in February 2010, the winery itself already has a remarkable history. The estate was previously owned by Dr. William Filsinger and his late wife Katharine, who provided the Temecula Wine Valley with exceptional wines for nearly 30 years. Danza Del Sol is dedicated to producing a unique range of premium varietal and proprietary blended wines that are sure to exceed your expectations, at affordable prices. For more information, please visit http://danzadelsol.com/.
About Rallysports Group of America
Rallysports Group of America, Inc. (RSGA) was formed as an organization in 2006 to advance the sport of performance stage rally in the United States. By providing education on performance driving, car preparation and safety, and by fostering the growth of meaningful competition, RSGA seeks to provide a sustainable and competitive arena for the advancement of North American performance rally that promotes increased value for rally competitors, organizers, and sponsors alike. For more information, please visit http://www.max-attack.com.
About RallyCar, Inc.
Based in Golden Valley, Minn., RallyCar sanctions the premier performance rally series in the United States, the Rally America National Championship Series. In 2011, RallyCar is conducting six National Championship events at venues across the country, from Olympia, Washington to Newry, Maine. RallyCar competitors reach speeds of well over 100 mph in modified street cars on natural-terrain courses consisting of gravel, dirt or snow. Additionally, RallyCar sanctions the 2011 U.S. Rallycross Championship featuring rally cars racing door-to-door on tricky tarmac/dirt race tracks. More information about rally and rallycross can be found at www.rally-america.com, and videos can viewed at www.youtube.com/rallyamericaseries.
Photo by Maciej Janiak, www.WorldRallySport.com
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