Maine Forest Rally | Saturday, August 3rd, 2003
Lauchlin O'Sullivan and Christian Edstrom on their way to a second place overall finish
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Higgins and Barritt claim their 5th win of the 2003 season
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The Lancer Evolution never faltered on the rough Maine stage roads
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Champagne is sprayed at the award's ceremony by Team Mitsubishi Motor Sports America
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Talking to the Speed Channel about the day's events
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Day 2 Update
Saturday, August 3rd, 2003
Team Mitsubishi Motor Sports America
2003 Maine Forest Rally: Day 2 News & Notes
Higgins first at Maine, O'Sullivan ties for second
Team Mitsubishi Motor Sports America took another giant step towards the season’s championship by finishing first and second in the Maine Forest Rally. With rain again being a factor, the team was able to make adjustments and stay consistent with their times, pulling off a decisive one – two finish.
David Higgins and Daniel Barritt, driving the number one car, took Friday’s lead and ran with it. They made small gains throughout the day, and at the end of the event had a comfortable lead over their friendly competition, teammates Lauchlin O’Sullivan and Christian Edstrom.
“We had another fantastic rally. Great car, great team, and great Michelin tires. Nice to be back to real rallying after what happened before,” said Higgins. Asked what keeps him motivated: “I hate to lose. I want to win everything I can.”
For O’Sullivan and Edstrom, the number two finish didn’t come as easily as Higgins’. In a tough battle all day with former Maine Forest Rally champions Paul Choiniere and Jeff Becker, they finished with identical times and tied for second. An excellent finish for O’Sullivan and Edstrom.
But it didn’t come without some minor problems along the way. “On stage eight, we bent the left front strut pretty badly. It was replaced at service between eight and nine, but the car still wobbled side to side,” said co-driver Edstrom.
He went on to describe O’Sullivan’s driving. “Lauchlin is Phenomenal. He drives so much within himself… middle of the road, really focuses. Makes my job of calling the notes so easy. I trust him implicitly and it’s great. We’ve only been together for three proper events, and it’s really coming together. I’m giving him some speed… it’s the best seat in the house.”
Team Mitsubishi Motor Sports America now has a solid team foundation to finish the season. The Lancer Evolutions are the quiet heroes of this success, their rally heritage ever present.
Quotes:
“Lauchlin is Phenomenal. He drives so much within himself… middle of the road, really focuses. Makes my job of calling the notes so easy. I trust him implicitly and it’s great. We’ve only been together for three proper events, and it’s really coming together. I’m giving him some speed… it’s the best seat in the house.” - Christian Edstrom, describing Lauchlin O'Sullivan
“We had another fantastic rally. Great car, great team, and great Michelin tires. Nice to be back to real rallying after what happened before,” - David Higgins
