Sarasin Confident Following Strong Run at STPR

Monday, June 11, 2007
CPD Racing's junior team is more than happy with their result of eighth place overall at the Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally (STPR). The top-10 finish is a result of driver Kyle Sarasin's development through Team O'Neil Rally School and Michael Johansson’s experience as a co-driver, helping to manage Sarasin's speed as dictated by course conditions and competitive standing.

"After a confidence building event at STPR, I’m looking forward to attacking Maine's notoriously narrow and rocky roads," said Sarasin, who graduated from high school in early June. "The change in driving style required for the next event should prove far easier with the one-pass recce, allowing me to know what to expect.”

Through the first five events of the season, Sarasin has successfully adapted to a big team, a new co-driver and new aspects of the sport that confront him as he competes at many of the national events for the first time. Aside from a cracked exhaust manifold at the 100 Acre Woods Rally, which destroyed the cooling system on the car and, consequently, the motor, team manager Graham "Whiskers" Evans is pleased that Sarasin consistently returns the car with no new shapes in the body panels.

While Sarasin knows that a top-10 finish in Maine will be difficult due the fierce competition for the X Games wild-card berth, the entire CPD team feels that more top-10 finishes are well within reach by the end of the year. With support from North Country Ford, the Group 5 Focus SVT is earning notice as one of the fastest two-wheel drive cars in America.