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| 2003
PFR Press Release 030512 |
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VANCOUVER,
BC –
The Canadian Rally Championship makes its debut
in a new location this June as the fifth round of
the 2003 series returns to British Columbia for
the first time since the early 1980’s. The
city of Merritt will host the Pacific Forest Rally
on June 13th and 14th when rally teams from around
Canada and the US arrive here to compete in this
exciting motorsports event for production-based
cars. |
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Last year's Canadian Champion and local resident, Patrick Richard of Subaru Rally Team Canada, currently finds himself in a tight race for the 2003 championship in his Subaru WRX. After just two events, Richard is in a three-way tie for second overall. Among the contenders challenging Richard for rally supremacy are a couple of Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutions; one piloted by the veteran and Quebec native Sylvain Erickson, the other by the talented newcomer Andrew Comrie-Picard of Edmonton. The surprise performance of the season surely belongs to Antoine L’Estage in his Hyundai Elantra. L’Estage currently leads the championship after a couple of steady finishes, but has yet to secure his first overall win. However, by the time the rally teams arrive in Merritt five weeks from now, these standings will likely have changed dramatically, as two more rallies are scheduled in Alberta before the Pacific Forest Rally in BC. |
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Meanwhile, the organizers of the Pacific Forest
Rally are working feverishly to deliver a national-caliber
event in and around the Merritt area. This year
the event has finally joined the national series
as part of the Canadian Rally Championship, which
is broadcast regularly on TSN and the RDS. Rally
officials, volunteers and the city of Merritt have
collaborated to produce this extreme motorsports
spectacle using the modern facilities and challenging
roads available in the Nicola Valley area. |
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There will be plenty of opportunities to catch
the teams in action, both on the mountain roads
and right in Merritt. It all begins with a display
at the Merritt Arena, followed by the ceremonial
start at the Merritt Civic Centre on the evening
of Friday, June 13th. The rally action resumes Saturday
morning when teams depart from the Railyard Mall
in downtown Merritt. Teams will be returning to
the mall throughout the day for service stops. Spectators
can catch the action up close at one of several
designated viewing areas, including the awe-inspiring
vantage point at one of the Active Mountain Entertainment
special stages. |
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For more information about this event, check
out the website: www.pacificforestrally.com or contact
organizer Paul Westwick at (604) 682-3296, or via
e-mail: paul@rallybc.com |
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For more information: Contact the organizer, Paul Westwick at (604) 682-3296, or Ken Kwong at (604) 808-0536 |
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Rally Head Quarters will be at the Merritt Civic
Centre, 1950 Mamette Ave, Merritt, BC. |
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For Media Accreditation contact: Ken Kwong,
(604) 808-0536 e-mail: ken@rallybc.com |