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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For More Information Contact:Jin Takemura Public Relations Manager Subaru Rim of the World Rally Jin@RallyUSA.com
Rim Joins Newly-Formed US Rally Championship
LANCASTER, Calif (Nov 16, 2004) - -The Subaru Rim of the World Rally has joined the newly-formed United States Rally Championship (USRC), a four-event series that will debut in 2005. The USRC is made possible through the cooperative partnership of the United States Auto Club (USAC) and the National Auto Sport Association (NASA). The four rallies will be listed on the FIA (Fédération International de l’Automobile) calendar, giving top international competitors to ability to enter the events.
Both USAC and NASA expressed eagerness to step in as co-sanctioning bodies when the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) announced in October its intention to drop the ProRally and ClubRally programs. Says Johnny Capels of the United States Auto Club (USAC), "With Rally Mexico now on the World Rally Championship calendar, there is a new awareness of North America's rally events. For the same reason the four event series is feasible for the grassroots teams, the same can be said for the International teams. USAC is proud to be part of this new development in the motorsport of rallying."
The United States Rally Championship consists of Cherokee Trails in Tennessee (March), Rim of the World in California on May 6-7, Rally New York (September), and the Ramada Express in Nevada (December).
For the regional rallyist, Rim will continue to have two California Rally Series events; and Rim's Saturday event will count for the 2005 Western States Rally Championship. In spite of its FIA listing, operational aspects at Rim will remain the same as in previous years: stage notes but no recce (pre-running), standard U.S. timing system.
Rim 2005 will return to the beautiful new Antelope Valley Fairgrounds as its headquarters and center of activities. The rally will again feature the exciting side-by-side Super Stage in front of the grandstands, the Vendor Fair, the Car Show, Rally Radio, Real Time Scoring Updates and a number of new attractions - all designed to attract the public to come out and enjoy the sport of rallying.
Rim is proud that Subaru is returning as Title Sponsor and Autosport Engineering as Presenting Sponsor.
“With top level regional and national competitors, plus the growing potential for international teams, the new United States Rally Championship is good news for American rally fans,” states Wilson von Kessler, spokesperson for the series. “They won’t want to miss the Subaru Rim of the World, always a stellar event, which promises its biggest year yet.” For Further Information Contact: Wilson von Kessler John Lindsey Dick Jordan # # # |