L'Estage starts season in 2015 Subaru WRX STI with a resounding win

Rocket Rally Racing only had two months to prepare the 2015 Subaru WRX STI rally car, but they were successful in getting it ready. Subaru Rally Team Canada (SRTC) and new Subaru driver Antoine L'Estage pulled out a win at the first round of the 2015 Canadian Rally Championship (CRC), Rallye Perce-Neige, in Maniwaki, QC.

An all-new 2015 WRX STI rally car

The 2015 Subaru WRX STI made its debut last season in the CRC, but the rally car was damaged severely after an unfortunate ending to the 2014 CRC season at Rally of the Tall Pines, just two months ago. The previous car was damaged beyond repair and Rocket Rally Racing was forced to build a new car from the ground up.

The 2015 Subaru WRX STI that SRTC and Antoine L'Estage competed with was a completely new vehicle that was “painstakingly prepared” and built from the ground up by Rocket Rally Racing for the past two months to get ready for the 2015 season. They had a very tight deadline to have the vehicle prepared in time for Rallye Perce-Neige. SRTC said, “There was little-to-no room for error in the development and construction of the 2015 Subaru WRX STI rally car.”

L'Estage and Ockwell are new to the team

Just last month, it was announced that L'Estage and Ockwell would be piloting the new 2015 Subaru WRX STI for SRTC. L'Estage won the Canadian Rally Championship driver's championship last season driving the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution race car. L'Estage and Ockwell quickly found their groove being in the new 2015 STI and didn’t miss a beat.

Antoine L'Estage and co-driver Alan Ockwell win big

Antoine L'Estage, and co-driver champion, Alan Ockwell took the new 2015 STI and had fantastic results right out of the chute. The duo captured 14 stage wins, out of a possible 16 and continuously got quicker as the event went on. They stood on the podium as winners with two other Subaru siblings. A total of eight Subarus finished in the top 10 at the 50th Anniversary event of the Rallye Perce-Neige.

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"We had a great first event for myself with Subaru Rally Team Canada and the car ran flawlessly," said L'Estage. "I was getting more and more comfortable with the car as the day progressed and when we went into the long stages in the forest I was able to set some good stage times. The car performed great and we had a fantastic final result, this is the best way to start the season."

"The car feels fantastic and Antoine and I are getting settled in the new vehicle and increasing our comfort level," said Ockwell. "It is absolutely amazing to be back and running with Subaru Rally Team Canada - I was so, so happy when I got the call a couple of weeks ago and found out."

L'Estage and Ockwell, now piloting the 2015 Subaru WRX STI, will go after another manufacturer championship this season. They are off to a great start as they win the first round of the 2015 Canadian Rally Championship at Rallye Perce-Neige.