Possumcorner - Tall Pines (4th overall, 1st PGT)

DMS Driver Take Canadian/N.A. Championship
Julien and Marie Ève Pilon: Canadian and North American champions

December 10, 2003

Brother/Sister Team Julien and Marie Ève Pilon crowned Canadian and North American champions

The Lachute Subaru / DMS North America WRX finishes 4th overall at Tall Pines

Bancroft, Ontario, November 23rd.- The 2003 season ended in celebration for the brother/sister team of Julien and Marie-Ève Pilon who finished 4th overall at the last Canadian rally of the 2003 season, the rally of the Tall Pines in Bancroft Ontario. Finishing first in P4 (the equivalent of PGT in the USA) at the Tall Pines rally, they clinched both the Canadian and the North American title in P4 and PGT. This supperb result even allows them to finish 2nd overall in the North American championship right behind the Subaru Canada factory-backed car of Tom McGeer!

?To be able to win these two titles after all the efforts that the team devoted throughout the entire season is a huge accomplishment for everyone. We just had to keep the car on the road at an easy pace and let our technicians do what they do best. Once again they did an awesome job during the services in order to keep the car up to speed with the competition enabling us to bring home the two championships.? Said a delighted Julien Pilon.

?Rough roads and fast conditions?

The Tall Pines rally has always been known for it?s tricky roads and many surprises. The forest covered roads were incredibly fast and rough and therefore, many of the top running teams had to retire due to mechanical problems or off road excursions. ?The DMS suspension handled the numerous jumps perfectly and allowed us to be in the hunt for a podium finish once again,? said Pilon. For the team, the biggest concern came when they lost 3rd gear on their Subaru WRX in the middle of a 25km stage, which forced them to run at an even slower pace for almost 5 complete stages.

?The Lachute Subaru / DMS North America Team? With only 4 stages to go and a transmission clearly about to fail, the decision was made to replace the broken unit. The swap, which they did without any concern in the 60 minutes service kept the car in the race. ?The guys did an awesome job once again, without their effort we never would have crossed the finish line of the rally, both championships that we won today really is a team effort!? said an excited Marie-Ève Pilon.

?The 2004 season?

The Lachute Subaru / DMS North America team will be part of the 2004 Maniwaki rally where they finished 4th overall last year. The team has yet to announce final details of their schedule and car for the upcoming season, but they should enter a minimum of 8 rallies again this year. The team would like to thank EDF, Motul, PDE, Carrosserie Michel Gauthier, DBA Australia, Lettrage Cam&Léon, Quality Exhausts as well as the service crew from Lachute Subaru.