2006 Maine Forest Rally

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Update Time	News
Fri 21-Jul-06 22:40	Car 103, Gubelmann / Krolikowski withdrew from the rally after Special Stage 3 with only one gear left in the box. According to Wyeth, "it was the wrong gear". There is a slim possibility that the team will try to find a replacement tonight, we won't know if they secured one until the morning.
Fri 21-Jul-06 23:16	A few teams had trouble on the stages today. Car 779, Przybysz / Amato lost their exhaust half way through Special Stage 2, they were able to continue, but were very loud. The crew was able to weld things together to finish and will make proper repairs at the end of the day. The team said that it is a really fast rally, in fact they topped out at 110mph on Special Stage 2 and Special Stage 3. Car 523, Hanson / Hanson hit a large rock in the road in the middle of fast corner on Special Stage 2 that "tipped us over". The car rolled, but the team was able to get back on their wheels and make it through the remaining stages and back to service. A new windshield was secured thanks to Car 774, Dimiters / Ockwell and Autosport Engineering who graciously lent them their spare after they DNF'd on Special Stage 3 with an engine problem.
Fri 21-Jul-06 23:34	Evidently the team of Car 11, Choiniere / Becker were able to shake some of the "rust" they had off of them, they currently sit in second place. Becker said "we haven't done this in a year, it's a good chance to shake off the rust and get ready for the X Games". After the first three stages the team sat in fifth position, but were able to move up to second in the fourth and final stage of the day. The car they are driving here in Maine is not the same car that they will drive at the X Games, the blue and white version of their Hyundai is already on it's way to LA. Look for Choiniere to be pushing hard tomorrow as he makes his charge for yet another win at the Maine Forest Rally.
Fri 21-Jul-06 23:43	We will find out the winner of the Maine Forest Rally and who will qualify for the final X Games positions after the final five stages of the rally tomorrow. Please check back as the cars begin the final stages of the rally at 9:30am tomorrow.
Sat 22-Jul-06 09:31	The competition today should be pretty exciting considering the top 11 cars are within a minute and a half. Car 17, L'Estage / Williams has a considerable lead over the rest of the field, but 20 seconds can disappear quickly with any small problem. Expect Car 11, Choiniere / Becker to be trying to make up some ground today and pushing harder as the feel more and more comfortable in the car after their one year hiatus. Sitting in third, and the second qualifying position for the X Games, is Car 20, Comrie-Picard / Goldfarb. Goldfarb said when asked about being in third "well, it doesn't suck!" The team is in Parc Expose aligning the car and doing some last minute prep. The cars will start the rally today at 9:30am and run four stages total. Special Stage 6 has been canceled by the organizers due to extremely rough conditions, so teams will only run two stages prior to the service break . We expect to see the cars for service around noon, where they will be reseeded before they go back out to run the final two stages of the rally
Sat 22-Jul-06 11:04	Less than a second separate the leaders, Car 46, Johnson / DeMotte, and Car 429, Foust / Crouch, in the PGT class, which according to Matthew, is really not a lead. Johnson's plan for the day is to just work on his own driving, he says "It's worked for us in the past. It doesn't matter what Tanner does, the only thing I can control out there is my own driving." His plans are more long term than just one rally, he wants to continue to develop his driving skills and be the best driver he can be.
Sat 22-Jul-06 12:18	Rally leader Antoine L'Estage looks likely to qualify for one of the two available invitations to the X Games rally, but he says he's not sure he can go. The French Canadian says budget considerations may make it impossible for him to get ready in time for the early August contest. "I would like to go, but I have no money. The car has to leave the shop three days after we get home from this rally and I have big doubts I can do that in three days."
Sat 22-Jul-06 12:21	Known for their strategy, the team of Car 11, Choiniere / Becker, picked up the pace late in the first day to pull into second place. Together, this veteran team has won seven U.S. championships and are always considered a threat at this, their home event. Choiniere says the race won't be decided until the final stage of the day. "Whoever decides to charge through the rough stuff is going to have it."
Sat 22-Jul-06 12:29	Eighth at the end of the first day of stages, car Car 116, Lawless / Hendricksen were struggling with mechanical problems. "It was going fine until the last mile in the first stage and the car went into 'safe mode,'" said Tom Lawless. He said he was aiming for the rally win rather than the possibility of earning an X Games invitation. "This is my local rally. I'm here to enjoy the Maine Rally and see how it goes."
Sat 22-Jul-06 13:33	Car 74, Lagemann / Fennell had a good Special Stage 5, but fear they lost some time on Special Stage 7 when they got "a little lost in the notes". The engine response is not what it should be, but they are still working on it. Ramana says "we're just trying to let the rally come to us and we plan on being there at the end."
Sat 22-Jul-06 13:40	Barring any major drama, the Group N standings seem pretty well set. Car 100, Anton / Jozwiak leads Car 91, Bottoms / Bosley by nearly three minutes, while another three minutes back is Car 151, Chang / Cruzan. Being lost in the notes didn't help Anton's time on Special Stage 7, but they are still very solidly leading the class. They are going to play it somewhat safe for the last two stages, but trying to change your pace in the middle of the rally can really throw you off. They are planning to keep their RalliSpec Subaru away from the huge boulders and make it to the finish. Car 91, Bottoms / Bosley is "probably still trying to shake out the cobwebs from their year off of rallying" says Bosley. The team is dealing with being down on power, but the crew is investigating it at service. Otherwise they are hanging in there, securely in second place.
Sat 22-Jul-06 14:00	Car 59, Moro / Rossey have retired after Special Stage 7 with a blown motor. The team hit something shortly after the start of the stage and knocked the radiator hose off. They continued on, but ended up cooking the motor. There received a tow into service where they were forced to retire.
Sat 22-Jul-06 14:06	Car 11, Choiniere / Becker is reported to be off and OK on the mornings stages, the reason for the DNF is unknown at this time. Car 173, Lilly / Gallagher and Car 10, McElduff / Fries withdrew upon arrival to service, both suffered mechanical problems. Car 93, Olson / Johnson had to be pulled out of "the only mud hole here". There were able to make it into service and are continuing.
Sat 22-Jul-06 14:16	Six seconds now separate Car 46, Johnson / DeMotte from Car 429, Foust / Crouch. Johnson was able to increase his lead even though he is keeping the cleaner line instead of really attacking on the stages. "We're leaving a margin for error today, especially on the rough stuff. But it's hammer down on the wide fast stuff." Foust did not have it as easy on the morning stages. On Special Stage 5 the team hit some random rocks in the road, one with the right front tire that was deflected under the car hitting and shattering the right rear wheel. They did drive it to the end of the stage, but believe they lost about ten seconds. Then on Special Stage 7, a "rolling boulder" ended up under the car smashing the exhaust flat and bending a rear wheel. Tanner says "there are lots of rocks out there, mostly kicked up into the line by other cars. When you're going that fast you don't always have the chance to go off line to avoid them. But, the Flatirons Subaru is still chugging along."
Sat 22-Jul-06 15:03	Car 690, Bartram / Hotson are still having a great time in their new WRX. Dennis has been very busy reading the notes, Kenny says "sounds like he's speed reading sometimes", but then Kenny does have to try and keep up with him. It is a big change of pace for the team, they're not used to having to get going so early in the pack. Surely they'll get used to it!
Sat 22-Jul-06 16:02	The level of competition has taken some drivers by surprise. Travis Pastrana says that even though he's aiming for a clean finish, he is by no means driving slowly -- but he still isn't making up any time on the leaders. "We feel like we're driving pretty well, but we're not -- obviously," said Pastrana, who was in fifth-place with just a couple of stages to go. "I've never been in a field where the top-six are within 30 seconds of each other." Fourth-place Matt Iorio and Ole Holter were also fighting to keep up the pace. "We've got to battle if we want to do anything here. It's fast," said Holter.
Sat 22-Jul-06 16:10	After pulling into the lead, Alfredo DeDominicis noted he has a little something extra on his side at this rally. With a European rally background, the one-pass recce has returned him to familiar territory with the notes. He says he's much more comfortable trusting his co-driver's calls, now that he's seen the roads.
Sat 22-Jul-06 17:16	Thanks to Vermont Sportscar, we are receiving scores via satellite phone. Unofficially, the top ten are as follows: Car 77, DeDominicis / Daddoveri Car 74, Lagemann / Fennell Car 199, Pastrana / Edstrom Car 18, Iorio / Holter Car 20, Comrie-Picard / Goldfarb Car 116, Lawless / Hendricksen Car 429, Foust / Crouch Car 30, Plsek / Burmeister Car 43, Block / Gelsomino Car 46, Johnson / DeMotte We have no information on what has happened in final stages, just the scores at this point. Obviously there have been some interesting changes, we will find out what happened when the cars arrive back here at the final control. We don't expect to see the teams arrive here until around 5:30pm. As it currently stands, Car 77, DeDominicis / Daddoveri and Car 74, Lagemann / Fennell will be the two teams who will qualify for the X Games
Sat 22-Jul-06 17:29	It has been reported that a broken rear control arm ended the rally of Car 17, L'Estage / Williams on Special Stage 8.
Sat 22-Jul-06 17:51	Unfortunately, it appears that the earlier on stage incident with the hood of Car 20, Comrie-Picard / Goldfarb proved costly. It not only cost them a chance at the win here in Maine, it cost them a chance at an X Games position. According to the unofficial results they will finish in fifth position.
Sat 22-Jul-06 19:55	Penalties have been assessed to the following cars: Car 630, Bares / Bares, 12 second penalty, late to TC3A Car 304, Furey / Treanor, 24 second penalty, late to MTC2 Car 173, Lilly / Gallagher, 7 minute penalty per 8.1.C, late to Parc Expose during a rally (MTC 5) Car 77, DeDominicis / Daddoveri, 24 second penalty per 8.1.C, late to Parc Expose during a rally (MTC 5) Car 102, Georgakopoulos / Mays, 12 second penalty, late to MTC 7 The scores have updated to reflect these penalties. Scores will become provisional at 8:30pm, and barring any inquiries, final at 9:00pm.
Sat 22-Jul-06 23:35	The final scores have now been posted. There was a protest that was reviewed by committee concerning Car 77, DeDominicis / Daddoveri. The committee upheld the 24 second penalty imposed, moving car 77 into fifth position. Pending an appeal of the final results, Car 74, Lagemann / Fennell is the overall and Open class winner of Maine Forest Rally. Lagemann has qualified for the X Games, the appeal process does not affect his qualification in any way. The second qualifier for the X Games will be announced as soon as possible.
Sun 23-Jul-06 00:09	The Rally America truck is packing up and heading West. We will be live at the X Games beginning Tuesday August 1st for registration and tech. Please tune in for all the action!