What a Race...!!

Last weekend the Idaho Rally International set new standards in North American Rally Sport. A total of 140 stage miles (224km) and 2 Super Special Stages run side by side is the new gig in town.  Wolfgang Hoeck and Piers O’Hanlon took first overall in a dramatic run from stage one. 

The event started off Thursday evening with the Red Bull Super Special at the Boise Expo Center. The next day competitors went out to battle the 80 stage miles (128km) around the Trinity Mountains. Hoeck & O’Hanlon had a comfortable lead and the battle for places 2 and 3 began. While Keith Jackson and Marra Estep fought hard to stay with Hoeck, Dick Rockrohr and Erik Schmidt fought back and forth for third.

Friday’s stages had it all. From fast and flowing to slow and tricky, competitors were forced to stay on top of their game. Only two stages were run twice on Day one, forcing everybody to give it all during the first shot. Several competitors lost grip and were forced to withdraw. Idaho’s roads are fantastic but very slippery. The smallest mistake can swallow you up and throw you out. Day 1 ended with a few crashes and some mechanical DNF’s, but of those that failed to finish Friday, 4 teams were able to make the repairs needed overnight and rejoined the rally for Saturday’s stages.

Starting Day 2 the first 4 teams were comfortably placed a part. All roads on Day 2 were new to the Rally, and on the first stage of the day- the team of Dick Rockrohr pushed hard and set the quickest time, earning their first stage win.

The battle for third evolved and carried all through the day. While Hoeck had a comfortable lead over Jackson in the first two podium positions,  Rockrohr and Schmidt drove it out to the bitter end with just a handful of seconds separating them. At the end of the day competitors returned to the Expo Center to run the Red Bull Super Special again. While first and second pretty much were set, 3^rd and fourth were up for a tight finish. Schmidt beat Rockrohr by 8 sec running side by side at the Red Bull Super Special, but that wasn’t enough to overcome the 16 second gap going in, so Schmidt had bow down, losing third by only 8sec to claim fourth.

The Idaho Rally International has made its debut in 2007. Rallydrift Inc has done a tremendous job developing this event from the get go. You can clearly see the European influence the organization has setting up the schedule and itinerary. The event is the longest dirt stage rally in America, the only one with a side by side super special and is run on what many consider to be the best rally roads in North America. Many teams have expressed that these roads are incomparable and should represent the USA on an international platform. We would like to thank our Sponsors Eibach Springs and Red Bull North America for their support.

Big thanks to all the Volunteers, it could not have happened without you!!