Subaru Motorsports USA Heads West as Rally Colorado Joins ARA National Calendar
Rangely, CO — Subaru Motorsports USA’s Travis Pastrana and Rhianon Gelsomino return to Rally Colorado, July 18–19, as the high-desert event joins the American Rally Association (ARA) National Championship calendar for the first time.
After missing the Southern Ohio Forest Rally, Pastrana and Gelsomino enter the second half of the season third in class in the No. 199 Subaru WRX ARA25L. With the class championship still well within reach, the pair now look to regain momentum on the uniquely challenging roads outside Rangely, Colorado.
Rally Colorado’s 2026 National itinerary features 13 stages and roughly 137 stage miles across two days of competition. The roads are generally smooth but can quickly turn rough, combining gravel, clay, and hard-packed dirt with extremely twisty sections, elevation changes, and exposed asphalt that make the event unlike anything else on the ARA calendar.
While Rally Colorado is new to the National Championship schedule, Pastrana and Gelsomino arrive with valuable prior experience. The pair competed at the event in 2025, when it ran as an ARA Super Regional, earning a class victory in the WRX ARA25L. That experience gives the Subaru crew valuable knowledge of roads many National Championship competitors have yet to race.
“I’m really excited to be going back to Colorado,” Pastrana said. “Rhi and I ran this event last year while working through upgrades on the car, and it was a great test for us. The fans were great, the roads were great, and even though the stages are open, they’re still very technical.”
The 2026 running has attracted a giant 70-car field for the event’s first year on the National Championship calendar. With stages including Dragon Trail, Cathedral, Valley of the Gods, Quest for Darwin, and the rally-ending Power Stage, Earl’s Bad Day, Rally Colorado will bring a new look and a new rhythm to the ARA season.
“Rally Colorado is one of the most unique events on the calendar,” Gelsomino said. “With stages reaching over 7,500 feet in elevation, the high-desert terrain presents a completely different challenge. The roads are fast in sections and rough and technical in others. With no tree lines, there are fewer visual references, so judging speed and distance can be difficult, making trust in the notes more important than ever.”
“We’re doing our homework and learning from last year’s experience,” she added. “We’re excited to be back and looking forward to a great weekend of rallying in Colorado.”
Rally Colorado opens the second half of the ARA National Championship for Subaru Motorsports USA, giving Pastrana and Gelsomino an important opportunity to continue their push in the Limited 4-Wheel Drive class. Fans can follow Subaru Motorsports USA throughout Rally Colorado, July 18–19,on Facebook, on Instagram @subarumotorsportsusa, and on TikTok @subarumotorsportsusa.
NAME: Rally Colorado 2026
DATES: 7/18 – 7/19/2026
HOST TOWNS: Rangely, Colorado
TIME ZONE: Mountain Daylight Time (UTC -6)
NEAREST MAJOR AIRPORT: Salt Lake City Intl Airport (SLC)
WEATHER: Sunshine and some clouds. Thunder storm possible. High 96F. Low 64F.
2026 Rally Colorado Stage Info
Total Distance: 382.69 miles
Number of stages: 13
Stage distance: 137.84 miles
Stage surfaces: Gravel
Longest stage: 13.24 miles (SS3/6 Valley of the Gods)
Highest Elevation: 7,310 ft
Recce: 7/16 – 7/17 2026
Service Parks: Elks Park
Official Start: 08:30am on Saturday
Superspecial: N/A
Power Stage: SS13
Stages in darkness: None
About Subaru Motorsports USA
Subaru Motorsports USA is directed by Subaru of America, Inc., managed by Vermont SportsCar and proudly supported by MOTUL, Yokohama Tires, R53 Suspension, Triple-R Lights, Antigravity and Peplink. Follow the team online at www.subaru.com/motorsports
Follow Subaru Motorsports USA on Facebook, on Instagram @subarumotorsportsusa, and on TikTok @subarumotorsportsusa.
About Subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts, and accessories through a network of about 640 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill plants, including Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc., the only U.S. automobile manufacturing plant designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the the Subaru Love Promise ®, which is the company’s vision to show love and respect to everyone and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA and the SOA Foundation have donated more than $340 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged over 115,000 volunteer hours. Subaru is dedicated to being More Than a Car Company ® and to making the world a better place. For additional information visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube.
