Subaru Motorsports USA Looks to Build on Early 2024 ARA Success at Rally in the 100 Acre Wood
Following a one-two finish in the first race of the 2024 American Rally Association (ARA )Championship season, the two Subaru Motorsports USA teams move on to Missouri’s Rally in the 100 Acre Wood March 15-16.
Defending ARA champion Brandon Semenuk and co-driver Keaton Williams look to build on their win at the season-opening Sno*Drift Rally and claim a third consecutive victory at 100 Acre Wood:
“Back for 100 Acre Wood and ready to pick up where we left off! Last year’s duel with Barry [McKenna] was unforgettable, and with him back in the mix the excitement is palpable,” said Semenuk. “I can already hear the fast gravel roads of Missouri saying, ‘Let’s do this again!'”
Meanwhile, teammates Travis Pastrana and co-driver Rhianon Gelsomino want to improve on their strong second place showing at Sno*Drift in the pair’s return to ARA competition.
Pastrana summed up the challenge: “100 Acre Wood is a fun and fast rally with a lot of crowned roads. They’re deceptive because you feel like you can go a lot faster but when you go over the top of the crown, you lose traction and can fly off the road pretty easily! Rhi and I will have our first full test in the new WRX ARA24 before the rally and will get some good seat time in – we hope to be on pace to challenge Brandon and Barry for the win!”
A rivalry between teammates is one thing, but the entry of veteran racer Barry McKenna and his heavy-hitting WRC-derived rally car ups the competitive ante for Rally in the 100 Acre Wood. McKenna nearly won last year, trading stage wins with Semenuk and separated by seconds throughout the rally. McKenna’s presence is sure to push Semenuk and Pastrana even harder than they might push each other.
Finally, there’s a rainy forecast over race weekend, which would mean back-to-back wet stages in the second race of the 2024 ARA season. It will be interesting to see how the two Subaru Motorsports USA teams handle their WRX ARA24s in that case: 100 Acre Wood already demands a precise, focused approach that has become the hallmark of the Semenuk/Williams pairing. On the other hand, the rollercoaster nature of the stages — the sweeping turns, fast straights, and jumps – plays into the strengths of the Pastrana/Gelsomino team. In wet conditions, these differences will only be highlighted, and the teams will have to focus even more intently on the methods by which they find their greatest success. As the clock to the start of the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood ticks down, stay in touch with the latest news and updates by following Subaru Motorsports USA on Facebook, on Instagram @subarumotorsportsusa, and TikTok @subarumotorsportsusa.
Rally info
NAME: Rally in the 100 Acre Wood
DATES: 3/15 – 3/16/2024
HOST TOWNS: Potosi & Salem, Missouri
TIME ZONE: Central Daylight Time (UTC -5)
NEAREST MAJOR AIRPORT: St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
WEATHER: Showers possible on Friday. High near 64F. Low around 41F. Sunset 19:10.
2024 100 Acre Wood Stage Info
Total Distance: 385.24 miles
Number of stages: 14
Stage distance: 116.04 miles
Stage surfaces: Gravel
Longest stage: 13.86 miles (SS9/12 Little Southern Hollow)
Recce: Open
Service Parks: Twin Eagle Lake Estates & Hideout (Fri) / Dent County Commons (Sat)
Official Start: 13:00 on Friday
Superspecial: No
Power Stage: SS14
Stages in darkness: Yes (SS13 & 14)
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, DirtFish Rally School, Sparco USA, weBoost and Peplink. Follow the team online at www.subaru.com/motorsports.
Follow Subaru Motorsports USA on Facebook, on Instagram @subarumotorsportsusa, and onTikTok @subarumotorsportsusa..
About Subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts, and accessories through a network of more than 630 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is the only U.S. automobile manufacturing plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by 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 $300 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged nearly 88,000 volunteer hours. As a company, Subaru believes it is important to do its part in making a positive impact in the world because it is theright thing to do. For additional information visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
