Subaru Motorsports USA has confirmed it will return to a two-car team at next week’s Oregon Trail Rally, with Travis Pastrana back in the #199 WRX.
The six-time US champion was forced out of last month’s Olympus Rally presented by DirtFish while he underwent further treatment for a damaged hip. That round-three absence also allowed the 40-year-old more time to recover from his knee-replacement surgery late last year.
The two-month break following 100 Acre Wood has given Pastrana time for recuperation ahead of next week’s Portland event. Subaru’s James Tate told DirtFish: “Travis is doing a lot better – he’s entered in Oregon Trail Rally with the goal of having some fun and putting priority on his physical state.”
Oregon Trail Rally starts with a brace of runs around the Portland International Raceway on Friday May 17, before two days on the gravel roads around Goldendale and Dufur.
DirtFish instructor Sam Albert starts directly behind the two factory Subarus, with his Ferrari-engined Impreza likely to prove a huge draw. Javi Olivares and Nick Allen will re-start a L4WD battle that raged through Olympus, while Matt Dickinson’s BRZ Proto gets its second ARA outing of the season.
Benefiting from some time away, Pastrana will be back among his people in Portland this weekend
Since his return to the ARA at the top of this season, Pastrana hasn’t been able to find the speed to challenge his two-time champion team-mate Brandon Semenuk – and that’s not going to be the priority on his return at round four.
