First event of the CRC season ends with nine Subaru vehicles in the top ten
(MISSISSAUGA) - Subaru Canada, Inc. (SCI) is proud to announce that Subaru Rally Team Canada placed second at Rallye Perce Neige, gaining 15 points in the season opener of the Canadian Rally Championship (CRC) season, held February 8-9 in Maniwaki, Quebec. After reuniting at last year's Tall Pines event, Subaru Rally Team Canada driver Pat Richard teamed up with his sister, co-driver Nathalie Richard, and played to their strengths as the first team to earn the rally 'Triple Crown', winning the Canadian, US and North American rally titles in 2004.
During the icy opening stages at Rallye Perce Neige, the Richards fought hard to keep pace with 2013 champion Antoine L'Estage and his co-driver John Hall. A small boost leak meant a loss of power early on, but the Richards still managed to win four stages throughout the event. However, choosing ice tires while L'Estage opted for snow tires was not the best choice for the forest stages in the afternoon but more serious was an injury suffered by Nathalie Richard during a series of jumps in the Kitigan stage. Fighting through pain and nausea, Nathalie still insisted on finishing the race and gaining as many points as possible for the manufacturer's and driver's season titles. Nathalie was taken to the local hospital after the race but released a couple of hours later.
Third place went to Alexandre Beland and Lyne Murphy in their 2007 Subaru Impreza and, even though Subaru lost out on first place, they prevailed over the rest of the field by taking the other nine spots in the top ten.
"It was great to start the rally season with my sister back in the car and finishing in second place," said Pat Richard. "Although we weren't as competitive as we wanted to be, we've got a long season to go. Being only five points behind puts us in an excellent position for the championship and I'm really looking forward to the rest of the events."
The 2014 Canadian Rally Championship continues on June 28-29, at the Rallye Baie des Chaleurs in New Richmond, Quebec.
Subaru Canada, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of over 85 authorized dealers across Canada. For more information, visit www.subaru.ca or www.pr.subaru.ca.
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