Congrats to Antoine and his 8th straight CRC title

L'Estage to drive for Subaru Canada in 2015

Ok, yes, the subject line is a little tongue-in-cheek. But seriously, barring any "teething" issues with the new car/team or a personal or team withdrawal from the CRC, is there any way he can lose?

I'm happy for him, he deserves to have a factory backed ride. I'm sure he will be very successful. Too successful, as he will now have absolutely 0 serious competition (unless some more exciting news is to come). Personally, I think this will make for a very boring CRC championship fight, which will ultimately hurt the CRC.

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Runamuck Rally

i'm sure he made this move to "up his game" in the rally america series. he's been saying he needs better equipment/budget to compete now for 4 years and (don't throw rocks) now he's got it. non?

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All bridges burnt, island life is beauty

I doubt subaru canada wants to fight subaru usa. Both championships will be boring.

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czwalga
I doubt subaru canada wants to fight subaru usa. Both championships will be boring.

Will be?

Ya mean "will continue to be"?

I thought they have been for 25 years...and agonizingly so for the last 15.

too bad the federations/corporations that "sanction" this "championships' are so addicted to glitz that they don't see how boring it is and do something realistic..
I see the British have cancelled their "championship" for 2015 because of catastrophic losses of entries...The cars are simply too expensive to have any kind of representative sample of a country's participants doing more than 1 event....Only a few rich guys with a personal whim...

How exciting can it be when a somewhat competitive guy forsakes it to go drive around near last in a poncy little Fiesta----in the Dubya Arsey? Somebody should really interview poor Leo about that.

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John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
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czwalga
I doubt subaru canada wants to fight subaru usa. Both championships will be boring.

Depends on who is doing the funding. Subaru Canada has ran before plenty of times in the US. Whether the Subaru Canada themselves actually paid Rocket Rally to do so, or if Rocket Rally just went is another story.

So its more a question of "does Antoine want to go back to the USA" and if he can get the sponsors to do it (I think).

gotta agree with john, leo is canadian story of the year as far as rally is concerned, the way subaru's rep is at stake whats the chance they'd share tech to have a common petitive rich guy championship in murica n canada. or is it team orders? canada is inferior i repeat keep team canada in 2nd place. but paint it white blue and yellow

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All bridges burnt, island life is beauty

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john vanlandingham
I see the British have cancelled their "championship" for 2015

Old news, and only after turning it into a 2WD championship.
I recentlty heard it'll come back in 2016 with R5 cars as the top level... hardly a cost saving measure.

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john vanlandingham
...because of catastrophic losses of entries...

And/or a return of the management of the championship to within the MSA wheelhouse rather than in the hands of a 'promoter.'

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john vanlandingham
The cars are simply too expensive to have any kind of representative sample of a country's participants doing more than 1 event....Only a few rich guys with a personal whim...

Over here the real problem isn't the cars - we see many people spend a lot more than they have to - but the cost in time to travel to the events in the championships.

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john vanlandingham
How exciting can it be when a somewhat competitive guy forsakes it to go drive around near last in a poncy little Fiesta----in the Dubya Arsey? Somebody should really interview poor Leo about that.

That interview has been done, a couple of times.
His reasons have far less to do with being bored in the CRC or RA event and more with swimming in a bigger pond to see what it's like. I suspect he found it deeper and colder than he expected.

Frankly speaking, if you ignore the first handful of places, there is usually some really good competition in most events. The P4WD field at the Western Canadian events has been reasonably deep (1.3 of the fields) and have seen some tight driver battles.

Ultimately, it doesn't matter who is leading the event, or by how much, for it to be any more, or less, exciting from the driver or co-driver seat. OK, if you are leading the event - or chasing the lead - it is a bit more exciting... but you know what I mean.

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First Rally: 2001
Driver (7), Co-Driver (44)
Drivers (16)
Clerk (10), Official (7), Volunteer (4)
Cars Built (1), Engines Built (0) Cages Built (0)
Last Updated, January 4, 2015

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john vanlandingham
Blame is for idiots. losers.

I wonder what Libra will do now.

if i won 50 mil tonight i know what libra will do

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All bridges burnt, island life is beauty

While Antoine and Subaru may now be joining forces at the inevitable top of the table, this actually opens up more opportunity for "privateers" to battle for the podium spots. Instead of battling for a possible third, they are now gunning for 2nd and 3rd with the potential for a win if something happens to Antoine. Indeed, it's not ideal that there is one runaway team at the top, but it's not all bad. Might generate more interest in 2WD too...who knows.