Lagemann Returns to Oregon Trail
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
 Ramana Lagemann returns for the Western rounds of the 2010 Rally America Championship after a two-year absence from professional rallying. The former factory Subaru driver teamed up with Rally-Tire.com and Dent Sport Garage (DSG) to enter this year’s Olympus Rally in the Super Production Class. Lagemann, who won Olympus outright in 2007, quickly found his pace and placed a brilliant result taking first in class and fifth overall with co-driver Chrissie Beavis.
Lagemann and Beavis overcame some mechanical drama early in the rally and went on to finish almost four minutes ahead of the second fastest SP team. A fierce battle was expected to take place between Lagemann and current Super Production Championship leaders Travis and Terry Hanson, but a crash on SS3 ended the Hansons’ event early.
 Posting remarkably fast stage times in an unfamiliar car, Lagemann’s time away from the sport doesn’t seem to have affected his ability to perform under tight conditions. After the rally he said, “I feel fantastic! It took a few stages to get back into it and there were concerns over the car, but you know, we’re here at the finish and the car held together. Top five and first in SP – we’re psyched!”
Ramana’s entry is confirmed for the Oregon Trail Rally, but he’ll be competing in Portland with a new co-driver…and possibly a new car! Scott Putnam will be joining Lagemann in the right seat for OTR since Chrissie Beavis has entered the event as a driver. Oregon’s Entry List shows Ramana will be driving the same 2007 Subaru Impreza WRX STi he drove at Olympus, although Lagemann has stated that he might show up in a more powerful, newly-imported SP-spec Mitsubishi EVO.
Going into the fourth round, Lagemann holds 22 SP points and is poised to win more. He would not confirm or deny any plans to contest the final two rounds of the Championship.
The Oregon Trail Rally is from May 14 to 16 in Portland, The Dalles, Dufur, and Hood River, Oregon. To follow Ramana’s next outing and learn more about the Rally, please visit www.Rally-America.com/events/2010/Oregon
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