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Vol.10: 12, August 2006

History's being made in the U.S. once again

As the start of the first-ever X Games to feature rallying gets underway, Group N Journal caught up with Chris Yandell, Marketing Manager at Vermont SportsCar, the squad responsible for preparing the ultra-successful cars of Travis Pastrana and Ken Block in the Rally America National Championship, and the guys bringing rally legend and former WRC champion Colin McRae to America for the first time.

GNJ: Chris, it must be nothing less than a super-coup to be a part of bringing former WRC champion and rallying legend par excellence Colin McRae to the U.S. for the first time - not to mention having him feature in the first-ever X Games that hosts rallying on its roster of extreme sports.

Chris Yandell: "To be honest, I think we are all still a bit in awe that Colin is here with us. I think for any rally team, anywhere in the world and at any level, to have Colin McRae drive one of your cars is something really special. Although rallying is small in the USA, Colin McRae undoubtedly has the best name recognition with the general public through his video games - so having him here in the USA will get some attention!"

As an American, are you proud to be the first to a) bring a star of Colin's stature to the States, and b) to be the clear favourites for the inaugural 'rally-friendly' X Games?

"It's a strange feeling with the X Games. Of course we want to win, but we have always measured success here in the USA more through how much we help grow the sport. The mere fact that the X Games has included rallying is enough for us! It doesn't matter where we end up at the finish; because in the end, rallying will gain a huge boost of popularity and momentum here. Vermont SportsCar has always aimed to grow rallying and serve as an ambassador to the sport in the USA. Our goal is to bring it the attention and respect it deserves. We did a lot of behind-the-scenes legwork to help rallying make it in the X Games; so that for me at least, is what I'm most proud of."

The Rally America National Championship continues to grow clearly going from strength to strength. In your opinion, how will this historic X Games affect the championship? What changes or developments can fans expect to see over the coming 12 months as a result of this watershed event for rallying in America?

"Yes, the Rally America National Championship is surely on the up. The X Games will boost general awareness of the sport to fans, hopefully increasing spectator interest at the remaining rounds this year. But I think the real payoff will be the hundreds of sponsors involved in the X Games that will learn about rallying for the first time. It will make everyone's job so much easier when you go and pitch for sponsorship. We'll hopefully get fewer "What is rallying?" questions from potential sponsors after the X Games."

You guys run SUBARU. It's an obvious choice. What makes it great?

"For us there are two things: Firstly, SUBARU understands rallying and it s a part of their global marketing plan. In the USA, to make rallying work, you need to be very aware that the general public simply don't know what rallying is yet; so the image and promotion of the sport are nearly as important as the capabilities of the equipment."

"Secondly, SUBARU is a great choice because the IMPREZA WRX STI is just so well supported throughout the world. We are not trying to engineer anything totally new here in the USA; our Open Class cars are simply a step or two above a Group N car. But what is important is that: With SUBARU the product is right, the parts are right, the support is right."

Do you have any predictions for the Superspecial stages? Are they going to be laid out in much the same way as we see in the WRC? Have you any thoughts on how the fans at the event might react?

"The X Games Stadium Stage is a bit different than your typical WRC Super Special. Cars will run one-at-a-time on a long course that starts on dirt inside a 30,000-seat soccer stadium. The cars then jump outside and loop around the stadium parking lots, twisting and turning, with a nice long straight too. They then jump back into the stadium to finish where another jump awaits them in the dirt. With the jumps, it should be exciting enough that just one car at time will be quite entertaining for fans."

Do you have any concerns?

"The jumps of course! They are huge - but well designed. Our 'concern' may grow or shrink after our drivers get to practise the course later this week!"

Once U.S. viewers see the excitement that rallying provides in a TV-friendly environment, what do you expect in terms of development?

"If it all goes well, I think the first development will be more events like this, more stadium-style sprints or some side-by-side super specials at other Rally America events. We surely would like the first development to be rallying's inclusion in the Winter X Games! I think Americans would enjoy ice racing."

>> Pastrana Wins Rally Gold at X Games 12 (9 August 2006)