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2016 SCCA RallyCross National Championship.


Draco-REX

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This past weekend was the 10th annual SCCA RallyCross National Championship. As some may know, this year I picked up a 2005 STI with the championship podium and beating a specific driver in mind. Well, I achieved part of my goals.

 

The event was in Indianola Iowa and covered three days with the actual competition happening across two. There were three courses, two on Saturday, one on Sunday. Saturday morning's course was the shortest and the most technical with a long slalom and the fast curves falling over two crests. Fast times Saturday morning were in the high 30s, with my best being a 38.825. My times were good enough to place me in 4th, but two cone penalties in my last run dropped me to 7th. Warren Elliot, the many-year reigning champ spun on his second run, landing him in 17th at the end of the morning session.

 

Saturday afternoon's course was a bit longer and more open. While it more resembled our local course designs, it took me too long to get a grip on it. Times in the low 40s were fast, my best was a 43.127, but it took me two runs to get there. Other drivers came to grips with the course faster and despite being cone-free, I dropped to 8th. Warren worked his magic and charged up the boards to end up 9th with just over a second between him and I at the end of Saturday.

 

Sunday was the largest course, covering both halves of the field. This course felt like home and I had it down on my second run. Fast times were in the mid to low 50s, with my best being a 54.325. Others had a tougher time and while I picked up another two cones, I climbed from 8th to 6th, good enough to grab the last trophy for my class. Warren was not on his game for this course and only reached 8th.

 

So 6th place was the final result. That puts me in the top 10 of drivers in the nation, but was far from standing on the podium. But I did achieve my goal of beating Warren Elliot; my times were solidly comparable to his through most of the weekend. But overall, I think I was successful.

 

Looking at my times, 4th would have been possible if I had stayed clean through the weekend. 3rd was achievable if I had driven better Saturday afternoon in addition to being clean. But I don't think I could have achieved a 1st or 2nd place finish. Really, the Evo is just too strong. Both Modified and Stock were dominated by Evos with another coming in 2nd in Prepared. Despite all I've said in the past, I think the STI might not be the choice if I want to continue to pursue a national win. I have some thinking to do.

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