Brandon Semenuk has crashed out of the lead of the Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally, promoting 2022 American Rally Association presented by DirtFish National championship rival Ken Block to the head of the field.
Subaru Motorsports USA driver Semenuk and Hoonigan Racing Division’s Block are embroiled in a close fight to win this year’s title, split by just four points heading into round eight in Pennsylvania.
Semenuk was beaten by his Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC-driving rival to fastest time on the opening Aspah stage but by just half a second, setting up a tantalizing battle for STPR victory.
However, that fight ended as early as SS2, when Semenuk retired his WRX STI 4.1 miles onto the stage.
The stage was red-flagged after Semenuk’s Subaru, which had reportedly run wide and run nose-first into a ditch on the outsider of a left-hander, had felled a tree and blocked the route.
The remaining competitors will therefore all given Travis Pastrana’s stage time of 7m26.6s.
The retirement is a major blow for Semenuk in the race to be 2022 ARA National champion, as Block now leads the rally by almost a minute over Semenuk’s team-mate Pastrana.
If Block wins STPR, he will hold the stronger championship card on the final round, Lake Superior Performance Rally.
Competitors in the ARA must only carry their best six scores from a possible nine towards their final points tally.
Both Semenuk and Block have won three rallies each so far this season.
