Images: Andrew Snucins

The final round of the 2023 Canadian Rally Championship convened at its traditional location at Big White Ski Resort near Kelowna, BC. Recent snow ensured a slippery and snowy event, but the lack of significant snowbanks would catch a few teams out over the course of the weekend.

Several top American teams joined the competition, including Sam Albert and Krista Skucas in their crowd-pleasing Subaru, powered by a screaming Ferrari engine. The duo carefully attacked the early legs of the rally, testing out their tire selection knowing the long, snowy stages of the final loop could play a deciding factor. Throughout the event, they set second or third fastest times on every stage, positioning themselves perfectly for a final push. Into the final stage, they applied pressure and forced the leaders into a mistake, inheriting the lead just a few km’s from the finish. As the car and team is not eligible for National points, they would claim the event win but no points towards the CRC title.

Despite a persistent coolant leak and engine overheating issues from the first stage of the rally, fellow Americans Jeff Seehorn and Aris Mantopoulis led the entire rally in their Open Class Subaru. However, in the final stage while pushing hard to maintain their lead, they hooked a snowbank and dropped over 10 minutes stuck in the snow to finish 5^th.

Jason Bailey and Jamie Willetts set consistent times throughout the day in their Ford, mixing it up with Albert and Seehorn throughout the day. Fresh off a class win in the World Rally Championship round in Japan, Bailey was settling in for a podium position when the team also benefited from Seehorn’s exit, promoting them to second overall, and claiming the top CRC points.

The brother-sister duo of Tanveer and Naila Deen, event winners earlier in the season at the Rocky Mountain Rally. They are consistently fast and consistent. They brought their Mitsubishi to third place overall.

In two-wheel drive, Kornelius Rempel impressed early with a stellar drive in the Honda Civic with new co-driver, Kristina Riggs. They were minutes ahead until suspension damage dropped them out of contention. Perennial favourites, David Clark and Lisa Long played the long game, knowing their experience could be an advantage on the long Gem-Falcon stages. They inherited the lead and never looked back. Matt and Dan Bobyn secured second place in class.

The championship contenders from Quebec did not make the trip West for this event, meaning Jean-Sebastien Besner captures the 2023 Canadian Rally Championship overall title, 20 points clear of Alexandre Moreau. Chris Greenhouse captures the 2WD championship crown.