In winning the 2007 Rally of the Tall Pines, Antoine has also clinched the Manufacturers title for Hyundai. “I’m really happy to have won the title for Hyundai, and I hope they continue to help into next year.” Antoine was also thankful to Concerto and Yokohama for their continued support, and looks forward to working with them next year.L’Estage also took a moment to comment on his battle with Frank Sprongl, saying “I’ve always looked up to Frank Sprongl and dreamed of beating him in a rally, and we had a great battle today, it was a lot of fun!”

Frank Sprongl and Brian Maxwell finished second, a little over a minute behind Antoine. “He started to push on the Hastings stages and then for the last service, he took tractionized ice tires, and I took cut intermediates. I made the wrong choice.” Frank went on to say that he’d really enjoyed driving the more powerful car, though “there was a lot of wheelspin.” Frank’s plan for next year is still a mystery, “right now, you know as much as I do. I don’t have a car, and so there’s a lot to decide on.”

Henderson took third, and a little further down, in fourth place was Martin Gauvin. Gauvin and co-driver Daniel Duchesneau have been quiet but consistent all season. The result has been a third place overall in the Canadian Rally Championship without running either of the Western events. Any detractors that felt Martin was talented at Baie simply because he’s a local New Richmond driver have now been shown that this crew has some real potential. In their P4 Subaru, the two Quebecers are looking forward into a very bright future. Andrew Comrie-Picard has pointed to them as an up and coming crew to watch.

“Crazy” Leo Urlichich was able to rein in his enthusiasm and drive his new Subaru cleanly and consistently to a sixth place finish, behind Ted Mendham. Urlichich is exuberant, having finished so well after his terrific roll at Defi Ste Agathe. “Last year I came to spectate at this rally, and it was just a dream to compete. Now one year later, I have one of the best cars, the best crew and I am doing it. It feels amazing!” Peter Reilly has finished seventh, with his VW Golf, even after taking the time to pull out ACP after his first off earlier today. Further down the order, John Cassidy edged out John Vanos to take tenth overall. John Cassidy and Dave Getchell are excited to be rallying back in Canada. “We’ve clinched the Eastern US Open Class Championship, but I don’t think we’re really looking to repeat. Our rally family is in Canada, and we’re looking to be back here more next season.”

Dave Mirra appears to be hooked on rallying. The BMX legend is already talking about running SnoDrift in the Rally America series this winter. After stuffing twice on the shakedown yesterday, Dave started off slowly today, working his way up, faster and faster. Near the end of the final leg, Dave suffered a bit of brain fade and stuffed the car again. Mirra and co-driver Alan Ockwell were pulled out by the last car on the road, and managed to get going just ahead of car 99, safely finishing the rally.

The competitors are heading for the banquet and so are we. Flatovercrest.com would like to thank the organizers of the 2007 Rally of the Tall Pines for their proactive support, without which we would have been unable to provide the same level of coverage. The same is true for our advertisers. Your continuing support makes it possible for us to do what we do.

It has been an exciting year in the Canadian Rally Championship, and the 2008 season looks as if it’s going to be even better. We’d like to thank all of our readers. Please let us know how we can improve, and thank you for all of your support through the season. We look forward to seeing you out there!

Coming out of these stages into the longest service of the day, there was yet another car missing from the field.  Peter Thomson hooked the soft snow on the inside of a corner and spun into the ditch, literally leaving him out in the cold, waiting for sweep. Antoine L’Estage is proving over and over again that he is a master of car control and self-control, opening up a fourty-second lead over Frank Sprongl after Stage 11. In a distant third is Craig Henderson who is keeping an eye on Martin Gauvin just a minute behind.

Leo Urlichich in his ex-McGeer Subaru Canada car is fifth, looking smooth and happy in the new car. "As long as I drive it hard, it does exactly what I want it to do."

As the National entrants tackled the tight, twisty, and very slippery Lower Hastings stages late this afternoon, Regional competitors got some time off before rejoining the rally tonight for the final four night stages -including the infamous Castledine’s Corners spectator area.  These four stages have been known to make or break many a Tall Pines competitor. A boost of confidence after making it through the majority of the day can often lead to a mistake in these difficult stages. After the first two passes, however, radio reports say that all cars have completed safely as they head back to the start of the loop.

Cars are due back into the final time control any minute now…we’ll have podium and final results soon.

Words by Warwick Patterson

“Everything is better than planned!” exclaimed Antoine L’Estage, who after five stages was tied with Frank Sprongl for the rally lead. “We’re just taking it easy, and get to the finish.” Frank is also being conservative, still getting the set up of the car just right. “I’m adjusting the dampers after each stage, just getting comfortable.” Moments later, word reached the two that ACP was out. “Let’s go play!” called Antoine.

Peter Thomson, who had the lead initially, is now farther back thanks to a failed turbo and a penalty for checking out of service too late. Despite the difficulties, Peter is nothing but smiles. “The conditions are perfect, we’re just having great fun, and everything has sort of clicked.” Peter did explain he would like to get a podium, and has to make up about two minutes to do it. With eight stages remaining, there is certainly an opportunity.

Meanwhile, Craig Henderson is in third, and elated with that standing. “We hoped for top ten, and now we’re in third!” Just behind is Martin Gauvin, and co-driver Daniel Duchesneau. “We are being very safe, we can win P4,” explained Duchesneau. Others are having a harder time with tire choice and the tricky conditions. Mark Williams was happy to simply be on the road in his Subaru after crashing at Defi Ste Agathe.

Peter Reilly brought confirmation that Comrie-Picard was out. “I pulled him out last time, but there’s NO WAY now! He’ll need a couple of trucks to get out now.” ACP had lost control on a fast section of the Peanut and stuffed his car in quite deep. The crew are reported ok, but there is no word on the car at the moment.

Dave Mirra has been enjoying a great deal of success at this event so far, and has moved up above 20th position. He tells us he’s hooked on rally. “There’s no hope, it’s totally beyond my control!” smiled Mirra.

Teams are now out on the Hastings stages before the last service prior to the night stages. The regional competitors are now in Parc Ferme, awaiting the completion of the national only portion of the event. Check back for a complete report on the 2007 Rally of the Tall Pines. For now, it’s time to get to the infamous Castledine’s Corner!

Words and Photos by Dean Campbell

This morning, teams took to the Old Hastings Road, the Peanut and the Old Detlor stages before coming into service. Conditions were wildly mixed with slick hardpack, ice and deep snow, all making tire choice difficult.

First on the road was Peter Thomson, who left the ceremonial start
on tractionized ice tires while almost every other competitor opted for
more open snow tires. The choice paid off for Peter, who found all the
grip he wanted and is really having fun. Sprongl’s EVO VI was having
his tires swapped for tractionized ice tires as well. “The student has
become the master!” joked Thomson.

Nathalie Richard explained the cautious approach she and Antoine are
taking, saying “we’re not setting top times.” She went on to explain
the pair were sticking to the plan to finish safe and sound and secure
the championship.

It appears that task will be even easier as Andrew Comrie-Picard
lost time on the Spectator stage, spinning in front of the VIP tent and
getting the car stuck. “We had a spin and backed into the snowbank. We
lost probably at least eight and a half minutes,” offered co-driver
Marc Goldfarb.

Ken Block also drove off the road after losing grip on a crest. “The road went left, and we didn’t,” said Block. Despite efforts by four different crews to pull out the stuffed Subaru, it was not until teammate Dave Mirra came along that the crews were able to get the car out. “Dave was my ace in the hole,” laughed Ken. “we were just cruising along, and dropped a wheel into the soft stuff on the side and it pulled us in.” Though Block and Gelsomino did eventually return to service, they were ruled Max late and excluded from continuing in the event. Block immediately left to spectate and has not yet been found for comment.

Dave Mirra, in his first rally ever is having a ball. “We had a couple hairy moments, but it’s just awesome! I wish it were dry, but man, you work with what you’ve got!”

Conditions have been so slippery that the more powerful cars are simply not getting the power down on the ground. “I cannot enjoy the new car,” commented Rejean Losier. “It has too much power I cannot use.” John Vanos and John Cassidy were also in the same boat.

“Crazy” Leo seemed to fair well though, catching Mark Williams on all three stages. “It’s probably a good thing, because it forces me to slow down.” Leo is coming off a significant crash at the Rallye Defi Ste Agathe, but does not seem at all affected in terms of speed.

Teams are back out for more stages now, and so am I. We’ll be back with more news soon!

Words and Photos by Dean Campbell

“The roads are snowy, and I like snow,” commented Nathalie Richard, “I just wish there were snow banks!” Nathalie was commenting on the road conditions during this afternoon’s recce, a chance for teams to take a look at the stages and write their own notes for running the stages tomorrow. With each pass over the roads, the surface has been swept bare of snow a little bit more, so much so, that ice is now visible on the shakedown stage.

“It is really slick,” emphasized Frank Sprongl as he took me out for a ride on the shakedown. Frank is entered in a “Frankiefied” EVO VI, belonging to John Kemp. “There’s almost no traction, I can spin all four tires in fifth gear!” Sprongl is aiming for a win, but knows that by sitting back and being careful, others will make the mistakes. Sprongl also added that the deciding stage will come very late in the event; that “this rally isn’t going to be over until the second pass of North Eels. That road is really treacherous with lots of little rocks sticking up everywhere.”

Antoine L’Estage is feeling confident, saying “the car feels good, everything feels good. It is slippery though.” Antoine’s experience in snow is bound to be favourable for the current Championship leader and 2006 Canadian Rally Champion.

Already crews have been caught out by the road conditions. Ian Crerar slid off the shakedown stage, as did first time rallyist Dave Mirra. Both crews and cars were unscathed, and have returned to service to prepare for tomorrow’s action.

The Planet Motorsport car of John Vanos was unable to make it out for shakedown, after a late run through scrutineering. “I’m not too worried about the rally,” commented Vanos, admitting that it would have been good to get out and practice the notes with stand in co-driver Jeff Secor.

Weather for tomorrow is forecast to hover around freezing, with a slight chance of flurries. The ceremonial start is at 9:00am tomorrow, with the cars starting the first stage at about 9:25am. With services between each batch of repeated stages, teams will be able to change tires for the changing conditions, each hoping they’ve made the right choice.

Keep your eyes on Flatovercrest.com tomorrow to stay up to date with all the action from the 2007 Rally of the Tall Pines, round six of the Canadian Rally Championship.