AUGUST 01, 2004, Rumford, ME - Canadian driver Patrick Richard was crowned as the 2004 SCCA ProRally Group N Champion at this weekend's Maine Forest ProRally. Richard, driving a Subaru Impreza WRX in the internationally-recognized Group N class, has dominated the 2004 championship season, scoring an impressive 4 wins out of six starts, including three overall victories against the more powerful cars run in the "Open" class. Results, Rally-Live

"The Group N Championship is the most important class championship in the SCCA ProRally series. It offers the highest prize purses, the greatest rewards, and the most exposure for our sponsors. Group N is a driver's class, and I can take comfort winning this title knowing that it isn't because we have a hotter car than the next guy. And the icing on the cake is that we have also beaten the Open class cars which means we are leading the overall championship."

Richard's championship victory was hard-earned this weekend. Starting the rally's final day as the overall leader of the event, the Canadian held a 20 second advantage over multi-time ProRally Champion Paul Choiniere, driving an ex-factory Hyundai in the Open class. Richard first lost the lead due to intercom problems, and then suffered a hard rollover on the subsequent stage, costing him several minutes.

"We were pushing hard against the top Open class guys," explained Richard's co-driver and sister, Nathalie. "Pat misheard a note and we rolled while in fourth gear. The car seemed ok but we were stuck on some large boulders."

After extracting the car, the brother and sister duo faced a race against time at the service halt. Borrowing a windscreen and other parts from the street car of fellow Canadian competitor Antoine L'Estage, Richard's crew worked with L'Estage's crew and the Lachute Performance team to bring their car back into shape. "Since our car is production-based, parts from any WRX will do. Antoine's road car happened to be parked right next to our crew, and our team swapped his windshield and a few other parts onto our car during service. We wouldn't have won the championship without the support of him and his team, along with Mark
and Nick from Lachute Performance."

Amazingly, Richard and his sister went on to score two more fastest overall stage times, holding their position and finishing to clinch the 2004 SCCA ProRally Group N Championship.

"This has been a great accomplishment for the team and our sponsors. This was a new program scrambled together at the beginning of the year, and it has been touch and go in terms of finding funding to make it to all of the events. We've now clinched the championship, and we're in a position to also take the overall championship as well. DMS North America, Motul, OMP and Globalstar all deserve great thanks for their support this year. As well, NASIOC.com has provided us a new promotional avenue for our sponsors. It's important to note that we've led, at some point, every single rally we've entered this year, which has led to great exposure for all of the team's supporters. I only hope that we will be able to continue the program to finish off the season."

Richard is currently the overall 2004 SCCA ProRally Championship leader, and is also leading the overall Canadian Rally Championship and the North American Rally Cup. In those latter two championships, Richard has scored the maximum points possible so far this season. Should he win all three North American titles, he will be the first driver to ever do so in a
single year.