SAMSONAS DOMINATES ROCKY MOUNTAIN RALLY AS LEBLANC BROTHERS CLAIM PODIUM FINISH

Lithuanian Veteran Takes Convincing CRC Victory While André and René Leblanc Shine With Third Overall And 2WD Win

Lithuanian rally veteran Martynas Samsonas and co-driver Kajus Samsonas delivered a commanding performance to win the Rocky Mountain Rally, overcoming challenging weather conditions and a demanding route to secure victory in the Canadian Rally Championship round.

Driving a 2007 Subaru Impreza N14, the father-and-son crew proved untouchable throughout the event based around Invermere, British Columbia, building a substantial lead before controlling the rally during Sunday's rain-soaked stages.

The Rocky Mountain Rally attracted 26 crews from Canada, the United States and Lithuania, becoming even more significant after the cancellation of the Pacific Forest Rally just days before the event. As a result, championship contenders faced increased pressure to maximize their points haul in Western Canada's only remaining CRC round before the championship headed east.

One of the major stories heading into the event was the appearance of Samsonas, a highly experienced Lithuanian competitor with extensive international rallying experience. Supported by Calgary-based VEX Performance, Samsonas arrived in Canada as part of a wider North American campaign and had already demonstrated strong pace earlier in the season with a top-five finish at Olympus Rally in the United States.

The opening leg proved decisive. Although four of Saturday's nine scheduled stages were cancelled, Samsonas immediately established control of the rally and ended the day with a lead approaching two minutes over the chasing pack.

Behind the rally leader, the battle for the remaining podium positions remained fiercely contested. Quebec's Alex Moreau and co-driver Hubert Gaudreau impressed in their new Subaru Impreza, ending Saturday in second place. Close behind were the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution crews of Boris Djordevic and John Hall, as well as Hardy Schmidtke and Stefan Trajkov.

In the two-wheel-drive category, André and René Leblanc emerged as the class leaders aboard their Ford Fiesta R2T, holding a narrow advantage over Nick Wood and Jennifer Daly in their spectacular supercharged 1971 Datsun.

Heavy overnight rain dramatically altered conditions for Sunday's final four stages. The already challenging roads around Invermere became increasingly slippery, testing crews throughout the field.

At the front, Samsonas adopted a measured approach, carefully managing his advantage to secure an emphatic overall victory without unnecessary risks.

The fight for second place took a dramatic turn on the final stage. Moreau and Gaudreau appeared set for a strong runner-up finish before suffering a transmission failure that ended their hopes. Djordevic also encountered mechanical issues during the final loop, opening the door for Schmidtke and Trajkov to move into second overall.

The biggest celebration behind the winners belonged to André and René Leblanc. The Gaspé-based brothers not only secured victory in the 2WD category but also claimed an impressive third place overall, one of the strongest results of their CRC careers.

Landon McDonald and Jamie Willetts finished fourth overall in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII, while Kornelius Rempel and co-driver Andrew Andrus rounded out the overall top five and secured second place in the 2WD category aboard their Honda Civic.

Among the other Quebec crews, Dave St-Pierre and Éric Dubé guided their Ford Fiesta to 12th overall and fourth in 2WD. Sébastien Clark and Pat Lévesque recovered from a difficult opening day, which included a puncture-induced excursion off the road, to finish 14th overall.

With the Rocky Mountain Rally complete, attention now shifts to one of Canada's most prestigious rally events. The Canadian Rally Championship heads east to Quebec for Rallye Baie-des-Chaleurs, scheduled for June 26-28, where competitors will continue their pursuit of championship points.

KEY POINTS

• Martynas Samsonas and Kajus Samsonas won the Rocky Mountain Rally overall.

• The Lithuanian crew competed in a Subaru Impreza N14.

• Heavy rain created extremely challenging conditions during Sunday's stages.

• Four special stages were cancelled during Saturday's leg.

• Hardy Schmidtke and Stefan Trajkov finished second overall.

• André and René Leblanc secured third overall and victory in the 2WD category.

• Alex Moreau and Hubert Gaudreau lost a potential podium after suffering a transmission failure on the final stage.

• Kornelius Rempel and Andrew Andrus finished second in the 2WD category.

• The Canadian Rally Championship now moves to Rallye Baie-des-Chaleurs later this month.