VANCOUVER, BC -- Rocket Rally Racing will debut its Subaru Canada Rally Team 2002 Impreza WRX at this weekend's Bighorn Rally, May 19 and 20 in Edson, Alberta. Rocket Rally will be joined by the other members of the three-car Subaru Canada Rally Team: TnT Racing and Van Gogh Productions.

"I am anxious to reach the higher performance level that the WRX provides over last year's championship-winning car, the Subaru Impreza RS. The Impreza RS was able to win multiple championships, but the new WRX is an entirely different, and significantly more powerful, car," said Patrick Richard, Rocket Rally Driver.

Richard will be helped by Ian McCurdy in the navigator's seat as the two try to regain top spot in their class. Bighorn is the third event in the Subaru Canada Rally Championship. Rocket Rally won the second event, Rallye Perce-Neige, but sits second in the championship behind teammates John and Clarke Paynter of Van Gogh Productions.

Bighorn offers hard, fast roads that let the rally cars reach speeds of up to 200 kilometres an hour. "Last year, this was the rally that taught me how to be patient with the car and really drive it. It is one of my favourites on the championship calendar," said Richard.

The team, the 2000 North American Production GT champions, will be campaigning the 2002 Impreza WRX in the new P4 class, which has replaced Production GT. The P4 class represents the ongoing re-alignment of Canadian rules with International FIA class rules. P4 is the top class for production-based cars, typically consisting of high-horsepower, turbo-charged, all-wheel drive cars. This new class bridges last year's Production GT class and the FIA's Group N class.

Rocket Rally Racing and the Subaru Canada Rally Team is also supported by OMP, DMS Shock Absorbers and Globalstar Communications.

Patrick Richard, Rocket Rally Driver
info@rocketrally.com
www.rocketrally.com
p. (604) 803-6095