Patrick and Nathalie Richard of Squamish are the 2005 Rally American National Rally Champions.
The pair claimed the title for the second year in a row.
They clinched it on Monday (Oct. 24) at the Lake Superior Rally held in Houghton, MI. The local team went into the race knowing they had to win it to claim the overall title.
"This is an exceptional result for the team, one which we had to fight tooth and nail for all year," said the team's driver, Patrick.
The former World Rally champion Stig Blomquist did well this season on the Rally American tour and he was in good shape to give the Richards a run for the championship.
"This year we demonstrated that we had the determination, the outright pace, and the professionalism to beat one of the best teams in the world," said Patrick. "We are in fact the team that can do more with less, and our short-handed crew has worked hard for these victories.
"We hope that this year's results lead to opportunities for us to get onto the international and world stage in the future, to see what we can do with the right resources in hand."
Compared to other teams running in the Rally American tour, the Richards report they are underfunded. Despite a lower budget, the team appeared at the big events and did well. There were mechanical problems for the team that cost them at Pikes Peak and Ojibwe Forests.
"Nobody has been quicker than us in terms of raw speed, its just been about the funding," said Patrick.
And funding is a high priority for the team as sponsorship deals are being explored already for the 2006 rally season.
Rally fans can see the Lake Superior Rally on TV as the Outdoor Life Network covers all the Rally American Rally [email protected]
