Subaru Rally Team USA Takes Top Spots at Wild West Rally

- Hagstrom and Lagemann Take First and Second in Open Class -

OLYMPIA, Wash., Sept. 8 -- Subaru Rally Team USA driver Pasi Hagstrom and co-driver Marko Taskinen made their US rally debut in their 2004 WRX STi and finished first overall in the SCCA ProRally class at this weekend's 2003 Wild West Rally. Subaru teammates Ramana Lagemann and Michael Orr made it a Subaru sweep, with an impressive second place podium spot for the Open Class.

Hagstrom and his co-driver Taskinen, both of Finland, held the lead for most of the rally and finished with a time of 2:05:47, winning the Open class in their debut event for the Subaru team.

"It was our first time working together as a team," said Hagstrom. "It was also our first time working with the pace notes used in SCCA rally, but we were able to adapt rather quickly. It's very exciting to win our first event here in the US rally series."

Subaru teammates Ramana Lagemann and Michael Orr posted a time of 2:09:13, which earned them second place overall in the eighth event of the SCCA ProRally series.

"This is a great day for Subaru Rally Team USA," said Lagemann. "We started out with the goal of having both cars in the top two places, and this one-two sweep earns us valuable points in the Manufacturer's Championship."

Hagstrom's first place and Lagemann's second place advances Subaru 35 points in the 2003 ProRally Manufacturer's Championship, putting them closer to the current points leader.

Subaru Rally Team USA will travel next to the Lake Superior Pro Rally on October 17 and 18, 2003 for the season finale. For additional information about Subaru Rally Team USA, visit the team's web site at www.rally.Subaru.com.

About Subaru Rally Team USA

In its debut season, Subaru Rally Team USA captured the 2001 SCCA ProRally Manufacturer's Championship, as well as Driver's Championships in both the Open and Group N classes. Subaru Rally Team USA is a collaborative effort between Subaru of America, Inc., Subaru Tecnica International (STi) and Subaru World Rally Team Representative, Prodrive. Subaru Rally Team USA uses Pirelli tires exclusively.

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