Rally America sliding sideways through Steamboat this weekend

September 15, 7:31 AMDenver Motorsports ExaminerChristine Jerritts

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Flatirons rally team Production GT Subaru

Rally fans have an opportunity to watch a national Rally America multi stage event in Steamboat this weekend.  Considered by many racers to be the foremost national championship to compete in, the event will draw some serious professional drivers and machinery.

According to local driver Lea Croteau, the multi stage nature of the event adds extra drama for both teams and spectators.  Cars must make a timed speed run up several different courses - some of them secret until the day of the race. Transit stages in between locations are also timed, so teams must have a system down for packing and moving their pits. Spectators also have an opportunity to move from stage to stage as the day progresses. 

Secret stages of the course pose a special challenge to drivers and co-drivers, but Lea notes that even repeat stages from prior years can hold big surprises.  The terrain will evolve year over year due to erosion, re-grading or even fresh paving.  Teams must be prepared with tires and a setup for any kind of surface - from gravel to dirt to snow to mud.  Spectators should keep this in mind too!

Lea Croteau will be joining forces with Scott Crouch of Boulder’s Flatirons Subaru rally team. They will be campaigning a Production GT class Subaru.  Only limited modifications are allowed in the class, but the car is fitted with a special rally suspension ready for accidental “jumping”, a skid plate and the usual package of safety gear.  A short documentary film on the team’s blog has more details about the race car.

The team is preparing for an unusual race - Scott has a long history of professional co-driving and Lea as a driver - but they will be reversing roles for Rally America.  The pair have been practicing their new jobs calling corners and taking direction at CORE (Colorado Off Road Extreme course in Deertrail) and even using rally video games.  They seem to be adapting well and Lea described a “eureka moment” last week as she was able to call corners and mind their position on the course without looking up - a key development for a top notch co-driver.

For spectators the weekend starts Friday night at 5:30 with a Parc Expose race car show in downtown Steamboat.  Rally stages will be run on Saturday and Sunday. More details on the weekend - including maps - are available on the Rally America website.