L’Estage takes second win in two weeks

Posted on 07. Jun, 2010 by Dean in Event Coverage, RA 2010, Rally America, Rally News, STPR 2010

Antoine L’Estage and Nathalie Richard took their second win in as many weeks, this time at the Susquehannock Trails Performance Rally, just one week after earning victory at the Rocky Mountain Rally.

L’Estage, who has been contesting his first full Rally America season this year, is also leading the points race for the Championship, in a secure position heading into the final event next month, the New England Forest Rally.

“Having a win for the Championship was really important,” said L’Estage, who has finished on the podium at every Rally America event, but had yet to take the top spot. “The Rally America championship would be a big achievement, especially with this being our first full season.”

For the entire Rockstar team, the week between the Rocky Mountain Rally and STPR was brutally short. The team left Calgary immediately, arriving at the Libra Racing shop in New England with almost no time before heading back west for STPR. The crew worked feverishly to prep the car, and aside from a small power steering problem on the first day of the event, the car ran flawlessly.

“I have to say a big thanks to the crew for driving like hell to get back from Calgary,” said L’Estage after the event. ” For me, this is one of the toughest rallies. It’s hard on the car and the crews.”

L’Estage had to fight back after the power steering problems, but soon began making time on Ken Block and Alex Gelsomino. The American team eventually retired after fuel pump and transmission problems became too much to fix in a shortened service. Dave Mirra and Martin Headland crashed early on day two, reportedly after a missed note.

Second place at the rally went to Bill Bacon and Peter Watt, who are second place in the points standings, and are also competing in their first full Rally America season.

“We lost the rear brakes,” said Bacon during a mid-Saturday service. “It happened at the first spectator area on the first stage (of this loop). I pulled the handbrake and just got nothing. From there I drove with just the front brakes.”

The result was obvious, the front rotors taking on the look of light blue chalk.

Third went to Ramana Lagemann and Chrissie Beavis, in a Super Production Subaru. Lagemann has shown that despite an absence from Rally, he is still a force to be reckoned with, and plans to finish the season at the New England Forest Rally next month.Two wheel drive went to Chris Duplessis and Catharine Woods, despite a flat knocking them down to 30th on the first day.

Tags: Bacon, block, L'Estage, Lagemann, Mirra, Mitsubishi, rally-america, rockstar, STPR, Subaru