For the first time since John Buffum's international rally campaign in the 1980s, America will have a representative in this year's FIA World Rally Championship. Travis Pastrana, 2006 Rally America drivers' champion, will contest three events in a Group N Subaru Impreza in 2007 with an expanding operation into the FIA Production car World Rally Championship in the following two years.
Pastrana recently spoke to WRC.com about his 2007 season and the prospects of succeeding on the world's biggest stage with an unfamiliar car.
"The car that we're going to use in our international campaign this year is less advanced, meaning that some in-car computers that we use in Rally America won't be there, than the car I am used to driving," Pastrana said. "It will also mean that the car we use in Mexico and elsewhere will be a little slower than the car we regularly run. That will be good."
When asked about his impressive Race of Champions run late last year in France, Pastrana was delighted with his performance and happy to compete against some of the world's best motorsport drivers.
"The Race of Champions was an excellent experience. It's not the kind of event that a rally driver or one of the circuit drivers are completely familiar with, so it's always a lot of fun to go through and see how everyone prepares and competes. I learned a lot over the past two years just watching the guys. I'll certainly go back any time I am invited."
Pastrana's 2007 season will consist of a full Rally America campaign, but the three international events he will contest have yet to be finalized (though the team has said initially they are planning for Corona Rally Mexico, Rallye Argentina and Wales Rally GB). Pastrana and co-driver Christian Edstrom have already applied for their international racing licenses.
-WRC.com
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