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My first rally event ever was last all at LSPR, and I remember being confused that there were so many cowbells used to cheer no competitors yet the vuvuzela was nowhere to be seen. ‘lo and behold the very first stage I visit there is a hardy fan slamming beers and trumpeting this obnoxious noise maker at every opportunity. I almost wish I could have given him a high five.
Lauchlin O’Sullivan and co-driver Scott Putnam had a fairly dismal 2013 season, but was making up for it right away this year by finishing Friday with first place in Super Production with a 1:38.0 lead. The car wasn’t dialed in quite perfectly for the loose snowy surface which prompted the team to raise the rear ride height in an attempt to reduce understeer. Their time of 1:12:57.1 put them in third place for the rally overall on day one with their 2008 STi. 
Relative newcomer to Super Production Dillon Van Way was hot on the heels of O’Sullivan in his 2013 STi package from Vermont Sports Car. Van Way has showed real promise as a top competitor in SP wih three straight podium finishes and an overall third place finish at LSPR last fall. He and co-driver Andrew Edwards would finish day one in fourth overall with a time of 1:14:35.1.
David Sterckx and co-driver Karen Jankowski were slowed down during Friday’s night stages due to electrical issues with their lights, resulting in a small off. They would finish Saturday with a 2:57:51.5 landing them in fourth for SP and seventh for the event overall. Sterckx and Jankowski had finished the 2013 season as the SP champions.
Matthew Johnson returned to the driver’s seat in the Scion Racing xD after a four year hiatus. Johnson is filling the seat that was left by Andrew Comrie-Picard who is now driving a Ford Fiesta R2 for Team O’Neil, a close battle for the 2WD championship is expected to ensue. Johnson and co-driver Jeremy Wimpey would finish day one in first for 2WD and seventh overall with a 1:20:04.6.
Unfortunately the 2WD battle that’s expected to play out all season didn’t happen at Sno*Drift. ACP and co-driver Ole Holter were stuck on a snowbank during stage five, paving the way for Johnson’s lead. The Team O’Neil Fiesta R2 would finish day one in fourth place for 2WD with a 1:55:11.6, over thirty minutes behind the pace set by Johnson and the Scion Racing xD. Unfortunately the hastily thought out aerodynamic changes featured above proved to yield little benefit for the Ford.
