In the deep woods of northern Minnesota, the Flying Moose Rally Team overcame multiple issues to finish 2nd and 1st on Friday and Saturday, respectively, of the Ojibwe Forests Rally. This was FMRT’s first experience at this rally and they were greeted with gorgeous weather and superb roads. The ingredients were set for a great weekend. Now, the team just had to perform.
Friday began with lightning speed, but Ian and Jimmy struggled to find a good rhythm. They had a few moments on the opening loop of stages that could have easily ended their rally. “My footwork was sloppy, I was late on entry, the balance of the car was off, and we had many issues to sort out,” says Ian. To make matters worse, the power steering failed on SS5. Despite those challenges, the team claimed 2nd place Friday evening.
Still without power steering, the team continued to struggle with the less than ideal soft road conditions on Saturday. Regardless, the team continued to push throughout the day. In the end, their hard work bore fruit. Their main contenders were forced to slow their pace due to mechanical problems, opening the team’s opportunity to seize 1st place on Saturday.
Ian Topping, Driver quotes: “This rally was a struggle for us. By Saturday morning, we were finally able to get a good rhythm and find a proper balance. That left us contending with no power steering. To walk away from here with a win is a great feeling. Big thanks to the team for all of their hard work this weekend!”
Jimmy Brandt, Co-Driver quotes: “Ojibwe is always a challenge with the sandy roads, the summer heat, and night stages. This year proved to be no exception. Ian continues to improve his driving and rise to the challenge of increasing competition. A special thanks to Jay Topping for his continued support.”
FMRT’s next and final season event will be the Lake Superior Performance Rally on October 16th and 17th in Houghton, MI.
The Flying Moose Rally Team is proudly sponsored by Thompson Racing Fabrication and eEuroparts.com.
You can follow FMRT on the following social media outlets:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/flyingmooserallyteam
Twitter: @FlyingMooseRT