Bangor, Maine, USA -- Last Ditch Racing, a Maine USA based ProRally team known for their consistency and sense of humor is pleased to announce that the team is growing!

The team will be taking delivery of a T.A.D Motorsports prepped 1998 Subaru Impreza to race in the Open class. The car features a Version 3 STi engine and drivetrain. Said driver/owner John Cassidy, "Despite all the challenges we've been faced with this season, we're striving to be as competitive as possible on a privateer budget." The car will feature a closer ration gearbox with limited slip differentials and far more horsepower than their current Impreza.

The car will replace the team's stalwart 1994 Subaru Impreza, affectionately named, "Steel Tulip." After shopping the car around for the team, co-driver Dave Getchell decided to buy the car himself to drive in select club events in both the US and Canada. Said Cassidy, "Tulip has been all the way from Newfoundland to California. She's a great car, and I'm ecstatic that she'll remain in the Last Ditch Racing stable-especially now that we have all the bugs worked out!"

Getchell will continue his co-driving and strap deployment duties for Cassidy and LDR at all Pro and National level events. "Dave and I are really starting to click, and we decided that we need to continue to build on that relationship," said Cassidy. The team will run both cars at select Club/Regional events.

The new car will debut at the Maine Forest Summer Rally in the same livery as Steel Tulip, including red reflective tulip graphics, courtesy of Keith Casey at www.rallydecals.com. "People have gotten to know Steel Tulip from coast to coast. We've joked that the two cars will be like Shamu at Sea World! Kids will be saying, "why are there TWO Steel Tulips!?"

Last Ditch Racing has completed three Pro events this season; the FIA sanctioned Rallye International de Quebec, the Rim of the World ProRally and the STPR ProRally. The team was the top finishing normally aspirated Subaru Impreza at STPR and gained 28 positions over the course of the race to finish 9th in the Open class.

Last Ditch Racing would like to thank their sponsors: Maine Hosting Solution, www.mainehost.com, Primm Racing, www.primmracing.com, Phantom Grip LSDs, www.phantomgrip.com, Team O'Neil Rally School, www.teamoneil.com and MRT, http://www.mrtrally.com.au/performance/

For more information on Last Ditch Racing, please visit www.lastditchracing.net or e-mail [email protected].

For Last Ditch Racing merchandise(including Triple Cuation thongs!), please see http://www.cafepress.com/lastditchracing

For more information on the Maine Forest Rally, please visit www.maineforestrally.com