Semenuk/Williams take win; Pastrana/Gelsomino place third in second event of 2024 ARA season.
The Subaru Motorsports USA American Rally Association teams both made the podium at the 2024 Rally in the 100 Acre Wood, with defending ARA champion driver Brandon Semenuk and co-driver Keaton Williams taking the win, and teammates Travis Pastrana and Rhianon Gelsomino placing third. The teams enter the month-long gap until April's Olympus Rally in the top two spots on the 2024 ARA Championship rankings.
Driver Barry McKenna and co-driver Leon Jordan placed second at Rally in the 100 Acre Wood, in their first appearance of the 2024 ARA season. The addition of McKenna's WRC-derived Ford to the field kicked the competition up a notch, pushing the Semenuk and Pastrana-driven WRX ARA24s to their limits.
After the event, Pastrana reflected on the advancement of ARA competition since his return: '(The ARA Championship) just went up to WRC spec. We're ten seconds faster per stage than when I left, and I come back and we're fifteen seconds off where we need to be at the end of the stages. We're gonna have to figure it out.'
'I feel like I had a great drive today. Yesterday was hit-or-miss,' said Semenuk, referring to a near-off during Friday's second stage that he skillfully saved. 'Today everything felt nice in the car – no dramas. Great to see Barry and Travis up here with us, and hopefully we keep this going the rest of the year.'
The rest of the year picks up with the Olympus Rally in Washington, April 20-21. With some stages running more than 20 miles Olympus demands concentrated, consistent effort from drivers over a variety of terrains and conditions. Stay in touch with the latest Subaru Motorsports USA ARA team news and updates by following Subaru Motorsports USA on Facebook, on Instagram @subarumotorsportsusa, and TikTok @subarumotorsportsusa.Photo credit: Subaru posted on conceptcarz.com
