Calgary, Alberta -- Defending Canadian Rally Champion Patrick Richard of Vancouver, B.C. finished second in a hard fought battle with his team mate, Tom McGeer, at the Rocky Mountain Rally.

This weekend spectators were treated to a breath-taking show from many of Canada's finest rally drivers during the fourth leg of the 2003 Canadian Rally Championship. The two-day race stretched drivers to their very limits. The stages were bone dry and the drivers fought through choking clouds of dust and exhausting 29 degree heat.

By the end of the first day Patrick was leading the field by just one second. However at the start of the second day he lost 17 seconds in Stage 3 and then another 14 seconds in Stage 4 to his Subaru Rally Team Canada team mate Tom McGeer. Suddenly the battle was on.

"We lost about 30 seconds in the opening loop of stages with gear selector problems" said Patrick. "However once we changed the gear shifter the car performed well and we were able to step up the pressure on Tom."

Patrick went on to set the fastest time in six of the remaining nine stages. The race raged late into the afternoon with the final stage ending at 8pm. As Patrick and Tom dueled for first place, the pace was so intense that a four and a half minute gap opened up between Patrick and Sylvain Erickson who finished in third place.

"Tom and I were both pushing really hard. We were taking one or two seconds off per stage, back and forth all day, but I just couldn't make up the time before the end of the race" said Patrick. "Obviously I was disappointed not to win, however it was a lot of fun and I gave it my best. It's a huge relief to finally break a string of four DNF's in a row."

Patrick's brand new 2004 Impreza WRX STi (launched to the Canadian market on May 1st) once again proved that even with a completely standard engine and d ifferentials the base car is capable of stunning performance and is perfectly suited for rallying.

Patrick faces Tom and Sylvain again on June 13th at the fifth leg of the Canadian Championship, at the Pacific Forrest Rally in Merritt, BC. Patrick also returns to the international spotlight at the World Rally Championship on June 20th at Limassol, Cyprus.

For pictures of the Rocky Mountain Rally go to: http://www.morisoncom.com/srtc/rmr/
For further information about Patrick Richard go to: http://www.patrickrichard.com

Press inquiries: Tim Gage
[email protected]
604 737 2531