,
Lauchlin O'Sullivan and Scott Putnam had an up and down rally. O'Sullivan found himself leading LSPR early on the first day, but got stuck after taking a big jump on Stage 6 (See the video: http://vimeo.com/109304545), O'Sullivan was forced to reenter the event with time penalties the next day. This time O'Sullivan kept it clean and his perseverance paid off with a third in class podium finish.
Due to the attrition ahead of the field, 2014 Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) Champions Andrew Comrie-Picard and Ole Holter drove to an outstanding third overall position, the highest placement in his 2WD career. The 2WD class victory also gives Comrie-Picard a remarkable 17 straight 2WD podiums extending back to 2011.
Interestingly, Dillon Van Way and Andrew Edwards began the season as Super Production drivers, but felt compelled to jump back into 2WD competition in a Ford Fiesta R2 at LSPR. Van Way and Edwards were already crowned the 2014 Super Production Champions, so the only question remaining was whether Van Way could keep his second place position in the final standings.
Ultimately, Van Way took second in class and a sixth overall finish. His placement dropped him to third in the national standings, which ties for the highest placing Super Production Champion in Rally America history.
Disaster struck Cameron Steely and Preston Osborn who nearly landed a 2WD third place spot. Steely lost a wheel on Stage 15 and was unable to complete the event.
Steely's retirement handed third place to Panos Karpidas and John Hall. With Karpidas and Hall on the final podium spot gave Ford Racing a Ford Fiesta R2 sweep. Karpidas is the runner-up in the 2WD national standings.
Notably Houghton, MI's top drivers, Adam Yeoman and Jordan Schulze of FY Racing, stormed back to a respectable fourth place overall finish after the team blew up an engine on day one. The drivers began day two in seventh with time penalties and climbed to fourth place. Amazingly, the finish was enough to catapult Adam Yeoman into a career best second place in the national standings.
