WELLSBORO, PA -- Early excitement at the storied Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally saw Subaru Rally Team USA driver Ken Block start the race in a new car and with a new co-driver.

"We're still leading the championship, but this will make it three events in a row where there has been trouble," said Block early Saturday.

Block went off the road during a test session on Friday and took heavy damage to his car. Co-driver Alex Gelsomino suffered a mild concussion and accepted medical advise to skip the race.

The team's Vermont-based crew opted to bring in a substitute car before the race -- the Subaru Block used to jump 171-feet for the television show Stunt Junkies earlier this year.

The team spent the night working to get the vehicle ready to race, while veteran rally driver and co-driver -- and team advisor -- John Buffum took the right seat for the contest.

"It's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it," said Buffum Saturday morning as he checked tire pressures and pulled on his flame-retardant suit.

Also battling adversity before the race even began was Matt Iorio, who suffered engine damage at the last round of the series in Washington just two weeks ago. Iorio's crew was unable to source a new engine until Friday night and they worked until the last minute Saturday morning to get Iorio into the race. The team took the start, but with minimal time for setup and testing.

"Yesterday, our motor was in all separate pieces," said Iorio. "I wish I'd had a little more time to shake it down, so we might still find a bug or two."

The demanding STPR course, which begins at The Green in Wellsboro, Pa., covers a total of 310 miles -- including 125 competitive miles in 10 stages. Rally teams race along dangerous woodland roads and through treacherous water crossings at speeds up to 100 mph.

Now in its 31st year, the Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally has been the proving ground for countless national and international rally stars. Rally racing legends such as Rod Millen and Buffum have earned multiple victories at the venerable race, which is the longest consecutively held motorsports event in the state of Pennsylvania.

Entering STPR, the top three drivers in the 2007 Rally America standings are separated by just five points. After four of nine events, Ken Block and co-driver Gelsomino lead the standings, followed by Tanner Foust and co-driver Christine Beavis. Oregon Trail Rally winner Andrew Pinker and co-driver Robbie Durant are third, while 2006 Rally America national champions Travis Pastrana and co-driver Christian Edstrom are fourth.

The Foust/Beavis team did not enter this race, due to a conflict with the Formula D series -- which Foust is currently leading.

In addition to the 2007 Rally America National Championship title, drivers are competing for entry into X Games 13. For the second consecutive year, rally racing will be featured in the Summer X Games, with the first five races of the 2007 Rally America season serving as qualifying events for the popular action-sport competition.

Rally America drivers compete in street-legal vehicles that are modified for safety. Six vehicle classes, ranging from stock to highly modified, compete under the Rally America banner. Eleven different automobile manufacturers are represented in Rally America events, led by Subaru, Mitsubishi, Dodge, Ford and Volkswagen.