Dust & Diagrams: Winter Wonderland Warfare – KWRC’s Pop-Up Rallycross Delivers Arctic Action!
Ohsweken, ON – January 31, 2026 – When Mother Nature delivers a perfect storm of winter conditions, the KWRC doesn't shy away; it seizes the opportunity. This past Saturday, the decision to reschedule a SNAT|R event paid off in spectacular fashion. Organizers and volunteers pulled together to capitalize on optimal conditions for a rare winter rallycross pop-up at Eagles Nest. The result? A day of frozen fury, skilled driving, and lots of snow-bank smashing!
The region's relentless winter and recent blizzards had blessed Ohsweken with a thick, pristine blanket of snow. Crucially, the punishingly harsh cold ensured the snow remained firm and guaranteed a solid base.
In the days leading up to the event, the track was plowed into a narrow ribbon carved between towering, unforgiving banks. Hidden beneath the powder was a treacherous layer of ice—a silent challenge that demanded discipline, patience, and razor-sharp reactions.
The Art of the Extract: Jim and Alton’s Masterclass
No winter rallycross is complete without a dedicated sweep crew, and KWRC’s own master-class rallyists Alton Gonsalves and Jim Morton headed up the operations. These volunteers had their hands full, extracting in excess of 50 cars throughout the day.
When you consider there were 25 competitors making roughly six attempts each, those numbers aren't actually too bad! However, some drivers were more "frequent flyers" than others. Mark Gonsalves took the prize for persistence, making a whopping 13 attempts! His aggressive lines led to several "close encounters" with the banks, eventually costing him his front bumper—a small price to pay for that much seat time.
The battle of the drivetrains was on full display. Teams with AWD certainly held the upper hand, but traction is a finite resource.
Perhaps the most impressive displays of grit came from the Rear-Wheel Drive teams. Facing a massive disadvantage, their mission was a high-stakes game of "avoid the ruts." Without the luxury of front wheels pulling them through the deep stuff, these drivers had to be surgical with their lines. One wrong move and they were high-centered, yet they kept returning to the line for more.
Not to be outdone, the Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) crews put on a clinic in momentum management. For these teams, it was a delicate dance of left-foot braking and keeping the nose pointed exactly where they needed to go. Without the rear-end push, every entry into a corner was a calculated risk—one missed apex meant losing the speed required to plow through the lighter drifts. It was a masterclass in "slow is smooth, and smooth is fast."
Solberg Style and Soul-Warming Chili
The highlight of the afternoon—and a moment that had track officials and spectators roaring—was Jason Ronza’s spectacular off-track excursion. Inspired by the "flat-out" philosophy of Oliver Solberg, Jason’s commitment to the corner sent him on a wild scenic tour through the snow that looked more like a WRC highlight reel than a local meet!
To keep the spirits high and the fingers moving, KWRC stepped up in a big way, providing hand warmers, steaming hot chocolate, and a legendary batch of homemade chili to warm the soul.
Comments
Post a Comment