2007 Outlander CUV to carry leading time-speed-distance rallyists on Arctic adventure
October 2, 2007 -- PORTLAND, Ore. --
Team Mitsubishi Alcan took the overall victory in the Gran Prix Imports Oregon 1000 Rally on Sunday, September 23. The event featured over 1,000 kilometers of SCCA Time-Speed-Distance RoadRally competition.
"It was a long weekend, but it was a great rally and a great chance to get comfortable working in our new Outlanders," said team driver April Smith.
The Oregon 1000 rally starts at Gran Prix Imports, an auto dealership near Portland, and takes teams on a scenic tour over backroads to Port Orford on Oregon's southern coast. Along the way, participants travel a predetermined route at specified average speeds. The route uses both paved and gravel roads, winding its way through the highlands and valleys of Oregon's coastal mountain range. The team that navigates the correct route closest to the perfect time is the winner.
Team Mitsubishi Alcan entered two 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander XLS crossover utility vehicles in the event. "The Outlander is a great choice for road rally because of its size and power," said team driver Gary Bockman. "It's big enough to carry all our gear, but not too big to drive, and the V6 engine makes it all easy."
One vehicle, driven by Smith and navigated by Marcus Song, is equipped with an advanced Time-Speed-Distance rally computer for maximum accuracy. They finished three days and 1,000 kilometers of competitive driving with less than a minute of total time error to claim first place among 13 entries.
A second Outlander was entered in the stock odometer class, and was driven by Bockman and navigated by Jeff Zurschmeide. Bockman and Zurschmeide finished second out of six entries in the stock odo class. Using only a pocket calculator and the car's stock odometer, the pair finished the weekend with less than 5 minutes of total time error.
Team Mitsubishi Alcan was formed to compete in the 2008 Alcan 5000 Winter Rally, which will take place in February. The Alcan Rally takes competitors over 5,000 miles from Seattle, Wash. to the village of Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, approximately 250 miles north of the Arctic Circle on the shore of the Beaufort Sea. The Alcan is a two week torture test for both vehicles and rally teams, and is the toughest and longest competitive road rally in North America.
Prior to the Alcan Rally, the team plans to enter several significant regional events to practice together and prepare for the winter expedition. The Oregon 1000 was the first event run in the Outlanders that will take on the Arctic.
For information on the Alcan 5000 Winter Rally, see www.alcan5000.com.
-MMNA
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