After eight rounds spanning from February to October, and more than 1,000 stage miles, the 2024 American Rally Association (ARA) National Championship concluded with a thrilling finale at the Lake Superior Performance Rally (LSPR) Presented by Travel Marquette. Set in Marquette, Michigan, this two-day event tested the limits of competitors on the unforgiving roads of the Upper Peninsula (UP).
With roots tracing back to 1949, LSPR has earned its reputation as one of the toughest events in rally. The deceptive, rutted logging roads and unpredictable weather make it a fitting end to the championship calendar, where drivers fought tooth and nail for every remaining point.
Challenging stages, unpredictable conditions
This year’s LSPR featured 132 miles (219km) of high-speed stages, cutting through the breathtaking fall landscapes of the Great Lakes region. 71 teams entered the event, eager to take on the challenge, while passionate fans lined the stages to enjoy the raw spectacle of rallying. However, persistent dust clouds caused visibility concerns, leading officials to space cars an extra minute apart.
The event was split into two demanding days: Friday featured 90 miles (149km) of stages, while Saturday included 40.26 miles (66km) for national competitors and 33.45 miles (55km) for regional entries. The rally began at the Ishpeming Armory, and competitors made their way through classic stages such as Al’s Playground and Menge Creek. The action then shifted to the Villikissa and Trouble stages, with the event culminating in two spectator stages at Mt. Marquette and Marquette Mountain.
Pastrana’s hat-trick victory in Michigan
The story of the weekend belonged to Travis Pastrana and co-driver Rhiannon Gelsomino, who took their third consecutive ARA National victory at LSPR. Driving for Subaru Motorsports USA in a WRX built by Vermont SportsCar, the pair clinched victory with a 46.8-second margin over second-place finishers Connor Martell/Alex Gelsomino.
Pastrana built an early lead on Friday, carrying a 25.1-second advantage into Saturday. While Martell stayed close, tying Pastrana on SS1 and exchanging stage wins, Pastrana gained a decisive advantage on SS13 (Trouble) and the Power Stage SS14 (Villikissa II), adding over 20 seconds to his lead.
However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Pastrana. During SS14, the turbo failed on his Subaru WRX, forcing him to limp through the final three stages as Martell capitalized, winning each one. Fortunately, Pastrana’s earlier time cushion was enough to secure the win.
After the rally, Pastrana addressed the crowd:
“I just want to say thank you guys, each and every one of you, for coming out, for supporting rally, and for supporting [the late] Al [Dantes] and his family. This has been one hell of a time! They had more volunteers here than any other event. This is the U.P., this is where we end our championship, and it is an honor.”
Pastrana also gave a nod to Brandon Semenuk, the 2024 National Champion, who was absent from the event to compete in Red Bull Rampage. where he claimed his fifth win.
Martell and Gelsomino shine despite setbacks
Martell and Alex Gelsomino put in a solid performance, securing second place overall with five stage wins. Reflecting on the challenging conditions, Gelsomino shared:
“Very different conditions and grip compared to past years at LSPR. It was a dry rally, so we were dealing with dust, and two stages had to be cancelled because the dust was just hanging in the forest. It was great to have more predictable grip this year. It allowed us to focus on pace notes and lines without worrying about changing conditions on every corner, which is normally a challenge here. I saw thousands of spectators on the stages, and cars were parked for miles outside spectator areas. It was amazing to see that energy, especially for a season finale.”
Martell’s performance was especially impressive, given that he was recovering from a crash at Nitrocross the previous week.
Block’s early exit and Olivares’ podium finish
Filling in for Semenuk, Lia Block and co-driver Keaton Williams made a promising start but crashed out on the first stage of Saturday. Block described the incident: “First stage was going great—no over-pushing, no moments. We just hit a loose patch, locked up, and ended up sideways between two trees.”
The crash left the final podium spot open for Javier Olivares/KJ Miller in a Ford Fiesta Rally2. The pair’s transition from a Rally3 car earlier in the season paid off, as they secured third overall and a strong finish to their RC2 campaign.
Booth and Dobbs clinch O2WD Championship
In the fiercely competitive O2WD class, Ryan Booth/Nick Dobbs secured their first national title after an intense season-long battle with Michael Hooper/Michael Hordijk. Hooper suffered a puncture on SS1, giving Booth a nearly 20-minute lead, though the pair continued to battle hard through every stage.
Booth reflected on the win: “Our pace was behind where I wanted it, especially since I missed recce. With Hooper’s bad luck, it took the pressure off, but that’s rally—sometimes luck works in your favor.” We had one shot to push for the Co-Driver Championship, and thankfully it paid off with a Power Stage win. I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.”
Booth and Dobbs finished fourth overall, while the rest of the O2WD podium featured Daniel Hayes/Boyd Smith’s 2006 Mustang in second and a 1969 AMC AMX in third.
NA4WD Class: Jacques and Cooper take victory
In the NA4WD class, Sam Jacques/Kyle Cooper claimed their first ARA victory, navigating tricky stages and enduring clutch issues that kept them up until 4:00 a.m. Saturday morning.
Jacques shared: “Our strong suit lies in tight, rough stages, and we had a blast on Saturday. We cracked three wheels, but everything held together for the win on our home turf.”
Their victory marked a breakthrough in one of the most competitive classes this season.
Other Class Champions crowned
- Tim Rooney/Claudia Barbera clinched the LN4 class win after their rivals crashed out.
- Andy Didorosi celebrated winning the NA4WD Cup with a second-place finish, edging out Madelyn Tabor and Sophia McKee in a season-long battle.
- In L2WD, Chris Sladek/Weston Davis took the win in their Acura Integra, overcoming a tough challenge from Chris Cyr/Glen Ray. Sladek reflected: “The Integra just got better and better as the rally progressed. Winning at LSPR is the best way to end a season.”
Looking Ahead
While the ARA National Championship has concluded, the action isn’t over just yet. The Show-Me Rally on November 2nd will bring the regional season to a close, capping off what has been an incredible year for American rallying.
Stay tuned for more updates and in-depth coverage of all things ARA at HHRally.com!