Washington was full of talk of the World Rally Championship’s return to America last week – one look at the Olympus Rally classification and you could have been forgiven for thinking it had already happened.
Just like the proceeding week’s WRC round in Croatia, it was a Toyota Gazoo Racing 1-2. Predictably, Jari-Matti Latvala dominated the third round of this year’s ARA National Championship with an inch-perfect display on his Stateside debut.
If the Finn’s command of the Washington state forests was as impressive as it was expected, his team-mate and fellow GR Corolla Rally RC2 driver Seth Quintero’s run to second place was equally merit-worthy. A month ago, the Californian struggled the find his feet on the ultra-fast Missouri roads of 100 Acre Wood, but the more technical stages in and around Shelton were much more up his street. He might have been seven minutes behind Latvala, but his surefooted-approach demonstrated definite progress.
For reigning European Historic Rally champion Latvala, his first win in a modern car in three years was worth celebrating – but he didn’t have it all his own way.
Four-time winner of the Olympus Brandon Semenuk might have landed a deal to drive a Ford Fiesta Rally2 just a week out from the start, but that didn’t stop him leading after the first stage.
Semenuk stunned everyone to lead SS1, but that was as good as it got
Unfortunately for the four-time American champion, that was as good as it would get. An overheating rear diff ruined his rally on the second stage and left the Canadian wondering what might have been.
On the back of Semenuk’s problems and a time close to a minute up on anybody else through the ensuing 18-mile Wildcat stage, Latvala moved directly to the front and stayed there.
“This rally was, for me, like a round of the world championship,” he said. “It was a long event where things could happen and you needed to adjust your speed in the rough places. I think that was one of the differences why the time gap was big – maybe the drivers generally here are not used to such a long event.
“The competition generally has been really good here. I’ve really enjoyed to drive these roads and be here on this event. Like you know, I am a big fan for the history and to be here 40 years on from the end of the Group B and to see the [Group B] cars of Steve [Rimmer, DirtFish owner] this was something really nice. I am just a little bit sad now that I have to take the plane straight away for Costa Smeralda (European Historic Rally Championship round) – it would have been nice to spend some more time in DirtFish and to see some more of Steve’s cars.
“But, honestly, it has been really nice to come to this rally and to compete for the first time in America and, of course, to make such a nice result with Seth finishing second. He made a big step from the last one [100 Acre Wood, Missouri].”
Briton Tom Williams arrived in Shelton looking to erase the memory of a 2023 Olympus when he crashed out of second place within sight of the finish. For more than two days, he was looking good and locked in for second. With two stages to go and the finish just starting to come into sight, things went awry in spectacular fashion.
The Škoda went into the trees flat in top gear. Mercifully – and in testament to the strength of the Standard Motorsports-built Fabia RS Rally2 – Williams and co-driver Ross Whittock walked away from the shunt.
Quintero struggled at 100 Acre Wood, but was on point in Olympus
Williams’ downfall elevated Quintero to second and provided Toyota with the perfect finish. Seventh after Friday’s opener, the Californian moved through the field to be scrapping for a podium spot before slotting into second two stages before the end.
“In terms of the result,” he smiled, “I got my butt whipped by my team manager which is a little rough. Seriously though, this is really cool. I didn’t expect to be at this pace yet, so to be here is super-awesome.
“The plan was: don’t overdrive and don’t be a hero. The driving really started to feel natural. It’s been great to have Jari-Matti here – he can out-drive the car and I can’t do that, so to see what the car can really do, what I need to chase and where I need to be, that was the biggest help.”
Lia Block’s start to the season offered no shortage of promise and, had she found 3.5 seconds in Missouri and more fortune with the Sno*Drift stewards, the Utah driver would have landed into Washington leading the championship with a win and a second place.
Things didn’t look much better after she was forced to stop and change a puncture on the second stage. Shipping more than two minutes left her running 13th. Across the next two days, she hauled the Hyundai back up 10 positions to the podium’s bottom step.
“We’ve salvaged a lot of championship points here and I think we’re second in the championship [sic third],” she told DirtFish. “I don’t think I could ask for anything else. It was a tough event, but this is a good result.”
A second fastest time to Latvala on Sunday afternoon was a positive way to end round three.
Lia Block fought back from 13th to third after a puncture on the second stage
Former Oregon Trail winner Ricardo Cordero was fourth in his Citroën C3 Rally2, with Martynas Samsonas (Subaru) fifth. Alastair Scully rounded out the top six and gave the Green APU team something to smile about after Pat Gruszka’s sister Hyundai was lost to a water pressure issue.
DirtFish Women in Motorsport driver Aoife Raftery delivered another stellar performance, running fifth overall before slipping off the road on Nahwatzel. Back on Sunday, the Irishwoman’s Ford Fiesta Rally3 was in the top-six on three of the day’s stages.
“This has been an incredible weekend,” said Raftery. “It’s a year since I came here for the first time with the DirtFish WiM Program and the progress we’ve made is fantastic. I’ve got to say a big thanks to Tony at Element Rallysport for the car and to Josie [DirtFish Women in Motorsport coordinator] for everything she does for me and Hannah [McKillop, co-driver].”
When Raftery’s main L4WD rival Travis Pastrana also hit trouble, rolling his Subaru WRX in the same stage to leave Camerion Gholson’s Impreza with the class win. Mark Piatkowski won NA4WD in his Subaru, while Mark Tabor secured the L2WD honors.
Josh Gierman took a near-five-minute win from fellow Subaru driver Trenton Koury in the Regional event.
As usual, the Olympus featured a strong contingent of DirtFish staff, with Michael Honn suffering fuel-related problems which cost him an overall Regional podium. Brian Miller scored a top-three O2WD result in his BMW, one place ahead of Nate Tennis’ 1973 Saab 99. Kendra Miller co-drove Steve Greer’s Subaru Legacy to seventh in L4WD.
