Six-time US rally champion Travis Pastrana has confirmed he’ll be taking a step back from the American Rally Association National championship this season.
Pastrana, the 2017 and ’21 ARA champion with Subaru Motorsports USA, endured a difficult title defense in 2022 as he broke his pelvis filming for the latest Gymkhana video.
That forced him to miss the opening round, Sno*Drift Rally, and restricted his pace on further rounds too as he recovered from his injuries.
Although Pastrana salvaged third in the championship, he went winless across the season as his Subaru team-mate Brandon Semenuk beat the late Ken Block to the title.
Pastrana’s intense schedule, coupled to the passing of Block, has contributed to him deciding to “re-evaluate priorities” for 2023.
“I’ve been on the road a lot racing both two and four wheels professionally for over 25 years,” Pastrana said.
“A bad injury to kick off 2022 followed by the passing of two close friends has me taking a step back to re-evaluate priorities. I love racing with all of my heart but I’m spread too thin at the moment to be the driver, the rider, the father and the husband I want to be.
“I will be focusing on Nitro Rallycross but taking a step back from rally and offshore powerboat racing.”
Pastrana added that it is “likely” he “will come to a race or two” in both ARA and powerboat racing but he “felt that committing to the full championships again was not in my best interest as a racer or a family man”.
He added: “The passing of Ken Block will be greatly felt in the community and I hope to be there to support his family in their rallying if they do choose to continue.
“Best of luck to the current champion and my Subaru team-mate Brandon Semenuk as he takes on the 2023 championship.”
Semenuk will drive an all-new Subaru developed to the ARA’s revised Open 4WD technical regulations for the 2023 season.
