"The Dust Settles (and Rises Again): Rallycross #2 Ignites the Season"

The Surge: Why Rallycross #2 Was So Popular

With the successful Rally Voyageurs behind them, the KWRC community and eager competitors from across the area converged for what truly felt like the season's inaugural rallycross event: KWRC Rallycross #2. After the disappointment of the first scheduled event turning into a "mud bath" that few were keen to tackle, Saturday morning brought a palpable sense of anticipation. Teams gathered, ready to finally lay down their first competitive hot laps of the year.

 Noah Bartlett

Though the skies remained largely gloomy and a chilly spring wind swept across the track, the rain held off, thankfully. This brisk wind, while making spectating a bundled-up affair, proved beneficial on the course, helping to clear the dust and maintain visibility. To further ensure success, KWRC's team had meticulously groomed the track, providing a smooth and rewarding surface for drivers. 

I even took my Mazda6 for a quick spin, and aside from a few minor bumps at the end of the back straight, the track was in excellent condition, poised to reward those who could keep their machines firmly on course.

As a grassroots event, Rallycross #2 showcased a fantastic array of vehicles, each with varying capabilities. Subaru Imprezas, of course, were a common sight, but other cars truly captured attention. Sab Okazaki's 2005 Saab 9-2x proved to be a dark horse, definitely one to watch. Matt Tregunno's '98 RS25 looked particularly sharp on the course, while the audible scream of Satyan Kochhar's CrossKart as it was put through its paces was a treat for all.

Sab Okazaki's 2005 Saab 9-2x

Matt Tregunno

Satyan Kochhar - CrossKart

On the Course: The Action, The Dust, and The Driving

The competition was fierce, with 30 drivers each getting six attempts to conquer the challenging layout. Officials diligently watched every run, carefully applying time penalties for cone tips or off-course excursions, all before tabulating the five fastest laps for each competitor.

When the dust literally settled, it was Storme Wroblewski who narrowly claimed victory, besting Sab Okazaki by a mere two seconds. Storme's win was a testament to his impressive consistency across all his runs. However, it was Sab who uncorked the fastest single lap of the day, a blistering 2 minutes, 14.6 seconds, on his fifth attempt. Both drivers, remarkably, incurred a five-second penalty but still managed to stay ahead of a strong performance from Darin Mayes.

Here's the top 10 - the full results will be posted on the KWRC website

Full results: https://www.kwrc.on.ca/

1st Place Storme Wroblewski

2nd Place Sab Okazaki

3rd Place Darin Mayes

Here are some photos of the other competitors from Saturday:

KWRC's Rapid Response: The Birth of Rallycross 2A

The overwhelming popularity of this event was undeniable. The sheer turnout and enthusiastic participation made it clear that the demand for rallycross was booming. Recognizing this immediate need, the KWRC swiftly responded by scheduling an additional event: Rallycross 2A on June 14th. This rapid response ensures another group of competitors will get their chance to experience the thrill and challenge of the course. 

Here's a note from the organizer, Martin Loveridge:

This is an added event as we had too many registrations for May 31.  We’re giving the waitlisted people and others a chance to run. If you run on May 31 that event counts for championship points even if you run both events. If you prefer to run on June 14 and cancel your May 31 registration that’s fine as well.  

REGISTRATION IS STILL OPEN!  

CLICK BELOW IF YOU WANT TO JOIN IN ON THE ACTION!

https://www.kwrc.on.ca/kw_events/rallycross-2A-for-2025/

I hope to see everyone back out at the track on June 14th for more of the action!