Brandon Semenuk has entered this week’s Sno*Drift Rally with Subaru Motorsports USA but will be joined by former World Rally Championship co-driver Keaton Williams instead of regular navigator John Hall.
Team-mate and reigning American Rally Association presented by DirtFish National champion Travis Pastrana, who won Sno*Drift last year, won’t make the start after breaking his pelvis last month, despite being “optimistic” his injury wouldn’t be insurmountable.
Semenuk will, therefore, drive the only Open class Subaru WRX STI on the event as Ken Block is absent competing on the East Safari Classic Rally in a Porsche 911.
Williams, who has competed in the US once and finished third alongside Josh McErlean on last year’s Olympus Rally, hasn’t co-driven since having to fly home from the Acropolis Rally in September due to personal reasons.
He had filled in for Daniel Barritt alongside Takamoto Katsuta in a Toyota Yaris WRC for the Ypres Rally – effectively ending his partnership with McErlean in the process.
DirtFish understands Williams’ appearance alongside Semenuk is a one-off for now.
Semenuk finished second on last year’s Sno*Drift ahead of 2020 ARA champion Barry McKenna who returns in 2022.
Other frontrunners include Kyle Tilley and Johnny O’Sullivan.
There is no news yet on when Pastrana may be fit enough again to compete, but neither he nor Semenuk are currently on the entry list for the second round of the ARA, the 100 Acre Wood Rally.
