Conner Martell will replace Travis Pastrana in the works Subaru Motorsports USA entry at next week’s Overmountain Rally Tennessee. The news sent ripples through the ARA paddock, as Martell had shifted his focus to WRC2 and now returns to the American rally scene.
Martell is no stranger to American rallying. Last year, he finished second in the ARA National championship behind Brandon Semenuk, who was then driving for Subaru. After that, he moved to WRC2, campaigning a Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale in two events. Now, he’s back with the "blue team" for Overmountain.
Pastrana had been driving a Limited 4WD Subaru alongside co-driver Rhianon Gelsomino this season. However, he missed last month’s Ojibwe Forests Rally after injuries sustained in a motocross stunt. With his recovery ongoing, Subaru has sourced a replacement for the penultimate round of the season.
Martell will drive the more powerful Open class Subaru, with Ross Whittock co-driving. Meanwhile, Martell’s regular co-driver, Alex Gelsomino, will partner championship leader Lia Block. This move highlights Subaru's flexibility in handling unexpected situations.
“It feels good to be on team blue for Overmountain,” Martell wrote on his Instagram story. “It’s a dream come true!” That statement captures just how much this opportunity means to the young driver.
The Overmountain Rally Tennessee is expected to be fiercely competitive. Besides Martell, big names like 2019 World Rally champion Ott Tanak will drive a Toyota GR Corolla Rally RC2 alongside Seth Quintero. Tanak’s presence adds significant weight to the competition in the top class.
Not to be outdone, four-time ARA champion Brandon Semenuk is also on the entry list in a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2. This will be a challenge for Martell, who must quickly adapt to the Open class car and compete against tough rivals. With such a strong entry, Overmountain becomes a proving ground for Martell and a chance for Subaru to stay in the championship hunt.
Baca Juga
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