Friday's optimism turned to disappointment Saturday as both SRT USA's drivers had separate problems, forcing them both to retire from the race. Ramana Lagemann, who started the day strong by setting some of the fastest stage times, was truly disappointed when he lost his steering. A minor incident with the edge of the road caused a ball joint to break, rendering the car undriveable and forcing him from the race. While discussing it after, Ramana took full responsibility for the mistake made in these treacherous conditions. But he hopes to harness these emotions for the next event, talking excitedly about Rim of the World. Although the day's result was a disappointment, Ramana has great feelings about the team and is confident this is going to be his best year yet.

Even more unexpected was Mark Lovell's turbo failure on Stage 13. Lovell, who had been having a tough time with tire choice throughout the event, had mentally settled for third overall and was driving conservatively, but fast enough to remain in the top three. The conditions today were like nothing else on the SCCA ProRally tour. No matter what tire choice was made, there were pros and cons on every stage, leaving teams guessing. For example, an icy stage may have been followed by two with fresh snow. Despite the heavy snow fall, fans lined the woods at every accessible location, and people loved watching the cars race through the beautiful snowy conditions.

Lovell also has high hopes for Rim, proclaiming it his favorite event. Considering his past victory there, he'll be the one to watch in May when the SCCA ProRally tour heads to the west coast for its most visible event. The Subaru team will have had plenty of time to prepare and train for Rim. Look for Ramana Lagemann's upcoming article on rally.subaru.com about his journey to his first WRC event, taking place in New Zealand later this spring.

As the cars ran Friday morning's press stage, light snow fell on already snowy and very slippery roads. Mark Lovell and Ramana Lagemann were both pumped and ready for the race to begin. Riding shotgun with Lovell for this event is Nicky Beetch, a co-driver well adjusted to the SCCA ProRally Championship and who has previous seat time with Mark. In the other car, Ramana is joined by an all-new young Brit, Mike Orr. Orr's fresh energy and quick thinking complements Lagemann, a driver looking for every advantage he can get. We hope this new duo pushes further and further towards the top of the standings.

At Sno*Drift this year, the stage roads are snow-covered for only the first few cars, revealing a hard sheet of ice. After a few cars, the course becomes a delicate dance between gas and brake. It's amazing to watch these cars race on such surfaces, they're always sliding one way or another. Out of the gate Lovell looked hot, with spectators cheering and noticing his extra speed. But Lagemann wasn't far behind, trailing the top few cars by only seconds. But it wasn't without a few harmless spins on the icy roads, and tire choice may have had something to do with it. "Everyone of us had different combinations and different setups," said Ramana. Although Lovell may have had better grip, Ramana chose a more conservative tire, however much stronger and less likely to puncture. After day one, Lovell is sitting in third, a little disappointed after lost time due to drivetrain problems, while Lagemann is a solid fifth.

Tomorrow's action takes place on all-new roads, and teams will work tonight to prep the machines. Being among the first few cars to start will play a huge advantage due to the quickly exposed ice, and SRT USA's two drivers both sit in great position. Check out the excellent photos from today in our new Gallery section and also for updates and more images tomorrow night.

With a solid Northern United States winter in full swing, the Sno'Drift ProRally will be true to its name this year. Snow continues to fall over the Atlanta region in Northern Michigan, which should make for fresh action and beautiful winter conditions. Teams have had 3 months to fully prepare and regroup for this opener. The 2003 SCCA ProRally season officially starts this week, and SRT USA is ready for the challenge. With the return of both factory drivers Mark Lovell and his protege Ramana Lagemann, Subaru now has two seasoned stars, each one equally capable of striking gold and boosting to the top spot.

This being the year's only snow event, the drivers will have to tune their techniques for more finesse and less power. This hugely powerful Subaru WRX's that normally chew through gravel roads, have been tamed for more drivability and traction on the slippery snow. The SCCA does not allow studded tires at this event, making for even more of a spectacle, as these professionals dance their cars through the course at break-neck speeds. As rally.subaru.com goes comes alive with a new look and feel, it will bring you better coverage of the events, more photos, and overall more rally action. If you're planning on heading north this weekend, come prepared. Dress for sub-zero temperatures and deep snow, and look out for snow machines. Look for updates throughout the weekend and if you haven't already, download our new screensaver under the join 'SRT USA' section.test